Judith McCormick November 19, 1939 - August 18, 2019

Judith Ann McCormick was born in Portland Oregon on November 19, 1939 to Earle and Sarah McCormick. She was proud to be a fourth generation Oregonian, her deep roots dating back to her Mershon and Chamberlin ancestors that crossed the United States in wagon trains to settle in Corbett Oregon. Judy’s parents and younger sister Carol lived in Northeast Portland for many years and were faithful members of St. Michaels Lutheran Church.

Judy graduated from Grant High School and went on to attend the Emanuel Hospital School of Nursing where she began a lifetime of service to others. Judy graduated nursing school and became a Registered Nurse in 1960.  Following graduation, she set out with a friend to travel to the Appalachian region of Kentucky where she trained in a unique, community-service based midwifery program through Frontier Nursing University. Upon completing midwifery training, Judy became a Lutheran missionary and traveled to the highlands of Papua New Guinea to serve the spiritual, medical, and midwifery needs of indigenous people there. In 1967, Judy returned to her hometown of Portland, Oregon and began serving the needs of the community through her work as an Emergency Room Nurse at Emanuel Hospital.  She dedicated the next 33 years of her life to serving patients at Emanuel Hospital. In retirement, Judy cared for her aging parents, was involved with her Church and was happy working outdoors at her home on the Sandy River where she lived for over 40 years.

Judy McCormick was a devout Christian and a very special person. She was friendly, generous, and loyal beyond measure.  Over the years, her interests included fishing, painting, photography, looking for bargains, and spending time with friends and family.  She had a deep sense of service and community, and a quiet way of supporting those in need.  Through each stage of her life she built lifelong bonds, accumulating many friendships spanning over 50 years.  Judy also had an adventurous, and deeply independent nature; and a love of travel and the outdoors. She treated everyone she met with kindness and dignity, and always looked for ways to encourage and help others through her words and deeds.  She was the most kind, giving and generous person many have ever known, and continued to make new friends even late in life. Judy was surrounded by lifelong friends and family as she entered Heaven’s gates; a beautiful conclusion to her time here on earth, and a celebratory beginning to her new life with God. She is survived by two nieces, and a grand niece and nephew. She will be deeply missed by many.

A celebration of life will be held Thursday August 29 at 10:30 am at Aims Community Church, 44510 SE Connett Rd., Corbett OR, 97019. Remembrances can be sent to 1) Emanuel Alumni Endowment Fund, C/O Trish Hamilton 2801 N. Gantenbien Ave. Portland, OR, 97227; 2) Frontier School of Midwifery, Inc., 2050 Lexington KY, 40383; or 3) The Papua New Guinea Missionary Society, PO Box 661, Warrensburg, MO 64093-9504.