Judith Rose Rex passed away Dec. 18, 2020 after a seven-year battle with Alzheimers Disease.

Judy was born June 14, 1943 at General Hospital in Eureka. She grew up in the family home on Lowell Street, walking to school with her sister Maelene, first to Lincoln then Jr. High and Eureka High School. She was energetic to a fault, bright, artistic and musical. She played the piano and loved to sing. After High School her first year of college was at North Park College in Chicago. She excelled academically yet found time to be part-time nanny and housekeeper for Pierre Salinger, Press secretary to President John Kennedy. After one year at North Park she returned to Eureka to continue school at Humboldt State College enrolling as a junior.

In 1964 she married Bob Chandler and began raising the first of their three wonderful children, John, Karen and Todd Chandler. During that time she also began a 40-year career as a teacher at Loleta Elementary School, teaching every grade level from 1st-2nd to 6th, 7th and 8th. She loved the precious little ones and guided the older ones thru those awkward teen and pre-teen years. The children loved her and she loved all of them.

In 1989 she began the relationship that would last the rest of her life, with the love of her life Robert Rex. They were married in 1995, and together purchased the home they would restore to be shared for life. She enjoyed traveling, to the East Coast, especially Washington DC, Boston and the Carolinas. Closer to home, Judy loved flying their airplane to visit friends & relatives in Port Angeles, Wash., San Jose, Temecula, Camarillo, or Reno just to escape the summer fog. Add salmon fishing, water skiing, digging razor clams — she was up for all of it. Another side fewer knew was her participation in NASA’s “Teacher in Space” program. Going to Vandenberg AFB to meet Astronauts John Glenn and others, experiencing weightlessness and being able to incorporate that experience into her Summer School program, rocketry, math and fun. The kids loved it, and her.

Judith is survived by her husband Robert, sons John (Tiffany), Todd (Karen) and daughter Karen Chandler Scovil (Jeff), stepdaughters Lori Rex King(Dan) and Karen Rex Pretorius(Jim) Grandchildren Nathan & Ryan Chandler, Robert King and Granddaughter Julian Chandler, her sister Maelene Locker, brothers Gerald, and John (Cindy) Aunts Carol Kinser & LaRue Parsons.

Judy was preceded in death by her parents, Dorothy & Vincent Locker, her special uncle Melvin Parsons and her first husband Bob Chandler

A special thanks to all of Freys Care Home where Judy lived the last 11 months of her life. The kind and loving care given by everyone there, especially during this Covid lockdown for 10 months with no visitors-no exceptions. A difficult time for everyone.

Due to the COVID-19 restrictions, a memorial gathering will be planned for later in 2021 and announced when possible.

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