Judith Ann Morgan, age 81, of Ventura, California, passed away peacefully in her home on May 20, 2024. She was surrounded by her loving family and will be cherished and dearly missed for all eternity.
Judy was born in Shreveport, Louisiana on February 26, 1943, to Howell Jr. and Doris (Dupuy) Morgan. She is survived by her brother David Morgan, her four children Elizabeth, Matthew, David, and Joseph Newman and her beloved grandsons Tanner and Mason Bilby.
Judy had an adventurous childhood, beginning in 1950 when her family moved to the expansive 73,000 acre Chaparrosa Ranch in Texas. She spent these early years exploring the beautifully rugged terrain of the ranch. It was during this time that she developed her lifelong love of animals, initiated and nurtured through sweet friendships with creatures great and small, including a pet crow who followed her everywhere, a javelina, a collection of cottontail rabbits, armadillos, pockets full of baby ground squirrels, bobcats and all array of ranch animals including a one-eyed horse whom she adored and cared for.
When her family left the ranch, they moved to Uvalde, Texas, where her upbringing continued through her high school years. She graduated from Uvalde High School in 1961 and continued her education at Texas University where she earned her Associates Degree while enjoying a friendly rivalry with her brother David, a die hard Texas Aggie. In 1964 she became a Flight Attendant for Eastern Airlines where her love of adventure continued through both domestic and international travels, creating both lasting friendships and a love of the airline industry for whom she would work off and on for much of her adult life.
In the summer of 1967, she met William Newman, a 1961 graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy, distinguished Naval Aviator and decorated Vietnam War Veteran. They married in June, 1968, her adventurous spirit being a perfect match for life as a Navy Wife. For 29 years she poured her heart and soul into her marriage and raising four grateful and devoted children while exploring the globe and exemplifying the role of a true military wife.
Judy's later years were spent in Ventura, California when, from 1995 to 2024, she finally found a community and place to call her " forever home". Ventura welcomed her with open arms and the truest of friendships and she absolutely loved her life by the ocean. Allthree of her sons followed her to Ventura early on and established their lives close by and her daughter and grandsons joined her permanently in 2022. She was a true matriarch and loved her family beyond measure.
During her wonderful life, Judy most enjoyed the "little things". Family, nature, animals and her vast collection of plants gave her immense joy. In the mid-1980's while living on Guam she became an avid SCUBA diver and that passion turned into a love of underwater photography. She adored the neighborhood crows and hummingbirds, always keeping their feeders full of nectar and their bowls full of peanuts. She was a voracious reader and her idle time was spent sitting on her front porch devouring the most recent book from one of her many favorite authors and waving to passers-by
Judy was the epitome of love, warmth, compassion, and acceptance. All who knew her came away feeling a little more special, a little more heard, a little more seen and a lot more loved. She was pure magic and all who knew her will feel her passing at the at the very deepest levels
Rest easy, fly high, watch over us and know we will love you and miss you forever.