Judith Carolyn (Gray) McDaniel was born on January 24, 1940, to Alexander and Elizabeth Gray in Redmond, Oregon. She had two brothers, Charlie and Dick, who preceded her in death. Judith is survived by her daughter Karen and son-in-law Richard Tunnell, along with her grandchildren Cam and Nate (Emily) Tunnell, her niece Susan (Jim), cousin JoAnn, and sisters-in-law Pat and Mary Lou, along with a wonderful array of nieces and nephews on the McDaniel side of the family.

Judith’s childhood was filled with adventures, as her father was a Naval Commander in the shipyards during WWII. As a child, she lived in various places including Oregon, New York, Virginia, California, and even spent some time in Japan. She often shared stories of sledding and building snow forts in New York, as well as crossing the ocean on a Naval ship to go to Japan.

She attended the Western Pennsylvania School of Nursing and became a registered nurse (R.N.). Judith dedicated her adult life to nursing, working in hospitals, oncology, and home health care, with a specialization in I.V. therapy. She retired at 70, but her identity as a nurse remained strong throughout her life. Nursing was her true passion, and she excelled in it.

Her nursing career led her to meet Don McDaniel, whom she cared for as a patient at the hospital. With Don came his wonderful large family, which embraced Judy wholeheartedly. They married on Thanksgiving in 1966. After Don's passing in 1990, Judith never found anyone who could fill her heart the way he did—he was truly her person. Together, they shared many RV adventures, including camping in Frenchglen, Oregon, where laughter was abundant.

Judith was a devoted mom to Karen and a loving grandma to Cam and Nate. She made every Christmas magical for Karen growing up and continued the tradition for her grandchildren, spoiling them without reservation. Judith never missed a birthday, a softball game, or a band concert. Her love for family was fierce, and she always believed in all of us, even if she occasionally had strong opinions about our choices—those moments will certainly lead to some cherished stories.

After retirement, Judith traveled a bit, visiting New Orleans and England—two destinations on her bucket list. However, she mostly stayed close to home, helping with Cam and Nate, and was there for them every day after school. She cherished watching them grow up and was thrilled when Nate became a teacher, while she actively supported Cam’s singing and acting pursuits.

In her later years, two sweet little dogs, Molly and Zoe, became the brightest spots in her life. They adored her, offering companionship during life's challenges and giving her a reason to keep fighting through tough times. Judith spoiled them, and they loved every moment together.

Our world won’t be the same without Mom in it. However, I believe that she and Dad are finally reunited, perhaps enjoying time in an RV with all of their beloved dogs and sharing laughter once again—there's nothing she desired more.