[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 158 (2012), Part 2]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages 2908-2909]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                       HONORING NANCY KAY JUDKINS

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. CORY GARDNER

                              of colorado

                    in the house of representatives

                         Monday, March 5, 2012

  Mr. GARDNER. Mr. Speaker, Nancy Kay Judkins was born in Amarillo, 
Texas, to Burnell Campbell and James Roy Judkins on October 18, 1946. 
When she was four, her sister Peggy arrived, and there began a sweet, 
abiding, lifelong bond. Then, only 8 years into her childhood, she 
contracted polio. At this early age, an inner strength and fortitude 
arose in her which was to define Nancy throughout her life.
  Throughout her upbringing, Nancy was an honor student and was 
recognized for academic excellence. She earned her Bachelor's Degree in 
Medical Technology at North Texas State University and went on to work 
at Baylor Hospital and Dallas/Fort Worth Medical Center for many years 
before moving to Salt Lake City where she worked for Asarco as a 
Laboratory Supervisor. Almost four years ago, she and Peggy moved to 
Colorado to be closer to family living there.
  Among many of Nancy's passions were the arts--especially the theater. 
She worked backstage for many theatrical productions and loved musical 
theater above all else. Some of her favorite shows included ``The 
Fantasticks,'' ``Brigadoon,'' ``Annie Get Your Gun,'' ``Showboat,'' 
``Kiss Me Kate,'' and ``Yankee Doodle Dandy.'' She collected a variety 
of music including classical, ragtime, show tunes, and jazz, and 
learned to play the piano herself as a young adult.
  Her love of words was reflected in her large book collection--from 
Austen to Whitman, Shakespeare to Safire, Twain to Thurber. She 
delighted in the Harry Potter stories, as well as stories of murder and 
intrigue. There was hardly a time in Nancy's life when she was without 
a feline friend or two, and she adored her sweet Maggie dog. She had a 
fascination with Germany; and after studying the language, she traveled 
there several times. Italy, London, and a cruise to the Caribbean were 
also on her list of travels.
  Her love and connection to her family were never so strong as when 
she began an interest in genealogy and became the family historian. She 
spent countless hours tracing the family's ancestors' lives and 
traveled to many of the places they lived and died.
  Nancy loved red hats, anything chocolate, irises in the spring, 
puzzles, popcorn, and the color purple. She loved Chaplin, Egyptology, 
Monet and O'Keefe. She loved so much and so many and was so loved in 
return. Her gentle strength and quiet courage inspired so many. She 
lived a difficult and challenging life with grace and dignity.
  We honor her today for all the gifts she gave and all the wonderful 
ways she expressed her beautiful soul.
  Nancy passed on January 28, 2012, in Fort Collins, Colorado.

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