On the last day of August of 1940 and at the end of a long, hot summer, Judith Anne Nicolarsen was born to Tucker Nicolarsen (of Kearney, Nebraska) and Mary Louise Nicolarsen (of Osawatomie, Kansas) in Altadena, California. Growing up, Judy was very much the bright spark amongst a large, connected family – especially during the dark days of World War II when many of her relations were going off to war and some did not return. In 1952, her baby brother, James Arthur, entered the world. Due to the 12-year age difference, Judy and Jim formed a very tight bond with Judy often taking charge with his upbringing.
Her father, Tuck, worked as an executive for SAFECO and every 12 months or so the family would move to a new city and state. Over the course of a 13-year period, Judy attended 12 different schools. After graduating from high school, Judy attended the University of Washington briefly before transferring to Portland State University. It was there in Chemistry class where Judy met her husband Bradford (Brad) Newell, a dashing fighter pilot. They were married on the 25th of June in 1961. Judy would go on to graduate from PSU with Bachelor’s in German and teach high school German.
Judy loved her home and her family. The hostess to countless slumber parties for her daughter, den mother for her son’s Scout troop and so much more but also the master decorator for any holiday occasion. Her natural flair with design saw her win multiple awards over the years for floral artistry, crafts and sewing. Judy was a particularly talented seamstress.
Judy always had a fondness of dolls which started when she was very young with her first Nancy Ann Storybook Doll. As she grew older, so did her passion. By the early 1980s, Judy had built a miniature Victorian dollhouse complete with lighting, handmade furniture and needlepoint rugs. Always the kind of Mom to be the chauffer for her kids, it was not uncommon for Judy to bring her needlepoint or knitting to baseball games. By the time the early 1990s rolled around, Judy had become an avid and well-regarded collector of antique bisque dolls and toys.
In 1993, this hobby had a brief intermission, as Judy, Brad and Wendi departed for the South Pacific on a sailboat. The journey would ultimately be a 4-year odyssey for Judy and Brad as Wendi departed the trek in New Zealand after two years. Upon their return, Judy continued her passion for collecting dolls. Judy also became very involved in a variety of groups such as the Nancy Ann Story Book Association and the Port Ludlow Yacht Club.
Judy is survived by her son Doug Newell and his wife Crystal of Lake Tapps and their daughters, Haley and Tara; daughter Wendi Dawson and her husband Andrew of Melbourne, Australia and their children, Jack (17) and Charlotte (13); and her brother Jim Nicolarsen and his wife Julie and their children, Eric Nicolarsen (and wife Becky and their new daughter, Alana) and Sherri Williams (and husband, Troy, and son, Trent, 8). Sadly, Judy was preceded in death only six months by Brad, her husband of 56 years.
One of Judy’s favorite authors was JRR Tolkien. Perhaps in part due to her height but mostly due to her generous spirit, Judy was a hobbit. She too had a courageous heart and always knew where her beloved home of 42 years was. As such, this quote seems an apt summary of her journey:
“Home is behind,
the world ahead,
And there are many
paths to tread
Through shadows
to the edge of night,
Until the stars
are all alight.
Then world behind
and home ahead,
We’ll wander back
and home to bed.”
There will be a celebration of Judy’s life on the 1st of July at the Port Ludlow Yacht Club commencing at 1p.m. The family asks that in lieu of flowers donations are made to the Jodi Cossell Memorial Scholarship Fund.
