Julia "Judy" Ann Black Pake

Judy was born on November 29, 1929 in Corbin, Kansas. Son of the late Loyal Raymond and Pauline Elizabeth Cagle Black. She passed away on May 13, 2025 in Issaquah Washington, she was 95 years old.

She attended Southwestern College where she met her future husband, James LeRoy Pake, whom she married on October 15, 1950. She sang in the choir, was a member of the Jinx Jane Pep Club, the Belles Lettres Society (a girl’s literary society), the Student Christian Association and the Intramurals Girls Volleyball team. She earned a Bachelor of Arts degree and went on to teach kindergarten. Her school years were marked by her kindness, empathy, and capacity to bring joy to those around her.

Judy was very active at Bellevue First United Methodist Church. She was the Wedding Coordinator for a number of years. She was also a member of P.E.O. Chapter DI (a women’s organization dedicated to supporting and promoting education for women through scholarships, grants, and other programs). She and Jim helped in the kitchen with prep and clean-up after numerous events. They both sang in the choir and were also members of Methodoers. Methodoers was a group who met once a month for potlucks and home-grown entertainment, and several times a year they prepared specialty theme dinners in the church kitchen. They sponsored square dances, set up pie-baking contests, live drama plays, and Talent Shows. Most of the Methodoers were also in leadership roles throughout the life of the congregation.

The family spent many vacations camping at various spots around Washington State. She and Jim were also Square Dancers with the Samena Squares, a modern square dance club. She sewed her own square dance dresses and Jim sewed his own western shirts to match the dresses Judy made. She and Jim loved going to the 5th Avenue Theatre in Seattle for live performances, especially the musicals. She was happiest when she was spending time with her family: 3 children, 4 grandchildren and 4 great-grandchildren. She also enjoyed music, books, crafts and gardening.

Judy touched the lives of many with her sense of humor, warmth, creativity, curiosity, and outgoing nature. She was a generous friend and possessed an uncanny ability to connect to just about anyone. She had a rare gift of building community wherever she found herself. Her versatility allowed her to connect with people from all walks of life, cultures, and social classes. She accepted everyone with an open heart and open arms.

She was survived by two sons, Steven Pake and Randy Pake; her daughter, Kathy Muggy; four grandsons, Geoff Muggy, Brian Pake, Tony Muggy, Andrew Pake; four great-granddaughters, Amber Muggy, Eliana Pake, Hannah Pake and Holland Pake. She was preceded in death by her husband of 70 years James LeRoy Pake.

Judy was a kind and thoughtful soul and will be missed and remembered by the many lives she touched. Her departure leaves an unfillable void in our lives, yet we find comfort in the memories and everlasting love she shared.

“Seeing death as the end of life is like seeing the horizon as the end of the ocean.”