Trained in piano at a young age, Judy was lured into taking up the bass by her high school music teacher. She ended up playing in various orchestras and jazz bands, and even mastered the glockenspiel in the marching band. While she did not continue with music, in her later years Judy would often remark how much she enjoyed being part of something that was much bigger than herself.

Judy’s first marriage took her to Eureka, where her husband Peter worked in television. Remarkably, she was elected chair of the Humboldt Democratic Central Committee at age 24 and was a McGovern delegate to the Miami convention in 1972. On September 19, 1972, she gave birth to her first daughter, Abby. She also enrolled in the Humboldt State University masters of sociology program. Not long after, Judy and Peter divorced. While working on her master’s degree Judy developed a relationship with James Derden, a professor of philosophy at Humboldt. With a master’s degree in hand, Judy married Jim on May 30, 1974.  

Jim was an avid hunter and fisherman. Much to Jim’s delight, Judy took up the gun and rod. They fished for salmon and steelhead locally and enjoyed deep sea fishing during trips to Mexico. She was something of a pioneer as a hunter. They would take trips to hunt pheasants with their pointer-retriever in the Tule Lake/Lower Klamath refuges and the fields in Willows, and it was extremely rare to see another woman with a gun. The other men were surprised by Judy and some would grumble that she was just there so Jim could get an extra limit. If anything, it was the other way around; Jim would always try to get her to  take his limit.  

On one of these hunting trips Judy brought with her seven graduate catalogs and read them out loud as they sat in a goose blind. They picked the programs in Sociology to which she would apply. She was accepted to the program that she most wanted, with funding: The University of Washington in Seattle. At the time UW was known for its strength in statistical analysis, which would become a strength of Judy’s. Judy’s mom and Jim each took sabbaticals to live in Seattle to help with Abby while Judy completed her coursework. 

In 1978, back in Arcata, Judy’s second daughter Erin was born. Judy spent the next years juggling family, working as a lecturer at Humboldt, and finishing her Ph.D dissertation, which she accomplished in 1985. Over the next decade she did everything from teaching statistics in the Natural Resources College, was head of Women’s Studies, and taught 80% of the courses listed in the catalog for Sociology. She developed a reputation as a workhorse, but was having to fight for tenure track status. Judy also became active in the union and was elected to serve on the state council as Northern California Lecturer representative. She traveled frequently in this role while Jim stayed home with the kids. Judy did not care for the broccoli family and the saying developed to wit: “If it’s broccoli for dinner, Judy is in L.A.”

In 1995 Judy got the recognition she deserved and was appointed to a tenure track position as an Assistant Professor. In 1997 she was recommended for tenure and Associate Professor rank, which she was awarded. Full professor rank shortly followed and the 15 year long “part-timer” became the department chair. 

Judy loved the field of sociology and exploring the complicated factors that shape social behavior, human societies, and social change. She also enjoyed questioning stereotypes and how we categorize the world. During class introductions, she would have students share two seemingly contradictory characteristics about themselves. As an example she would say “I grew up in Berkeley in the 1960’s, and I hunt.” 

Judy especially grew to love the field of applied sociology and was able to utilize her expertise in statistics to affect local issues. She crafted surveys and analyzed their results to inform decisions at the organizational, city, and county level. 

Judy was heavily involved in her field beyond the Humboldt campus and community. Some of her roles included being a member of the Commission on Applied and Clinical Sociology, the Commission representative to the Board of the Association on Applied and Clinical Sociology, and President of the California Sociological Association. She was also active beyond the field of sociology, participating on numerous committees across campus, supporting HSU women’s athletics, and serving on the board of Open Door Health, the Arcata Economic Development Committee, and the Pacific Union School Board, among others.

Around 2010 Judy finally retired from Humboldt after a very successful career as a teacher and administrator. She and Jim enjoyed vacationing on warm sandy beaches until her health and cognitive decline made travel difficult. 

Judy is preceded in death by her parents. She is survived by her husband, James Derden, daughters Abby Ward and Erin Derden-Little, and grandson Kailen Ward.

Our deepest gratitude to the amazing group of caregivers who supported Judy during the last year, especially Aleah, and to Hospice of Humboldt for helping us navigate the last week of her life.

In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation in Judy’s name to Hospice of Humboldt. There will be a small, private memorial at a later date.

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The obituary above was submitted on behalf of Judith Little’s loved ones. The Lost Coast Outpost runs obituaries of Humboldt County residents at no charge. See guidelines here. Email news@lostcoastoutpost.com.