If you have a mom, there is nowhere you are likely to go where a prayer has not already been. ~Robert Brault
With broken hearts and deep gratitude for her life, we share the passing of our beloved mother, Judith Ann “Judy” Nugent on February 20th in Eureka, California. To know Mom was to know a woman unwavering in faith, devoted to God, and steadfast in her commitment to her Jehovah’s Witnesses beliefs. Her days were centered on her ministry, her congregation, and her family. Prayer was her constant companion, and long before we faced life’s challenges, she had already carried them to God.
Mom loved her large and growing family; her children Lisa, Theresa, Lloyd (son in law), Veronica, Tom (son in law), William, Michelle (daughter in law), Andrea, Jared (son in law) and Wayne; her grandchildren Cecil, Diane (grand daughter in law), Amber, Brianna, Brian, Brittany, Keenan (grandson in law), Brooks, Madison (granddaughter in law), Blair, Justin (grandson in law), Joshua, Kyle, Devin, Benjamin, Mia (grand daughter in law), Bekah, Max (grandson in law), AJ, Daniel, Janzen, Alex, Faith, Jordan, Paiten, and Trevyn ; and her great-grandchildren Eric, Isaac, Bentley, Brooklyn, Blake, Brayden, Atlas,Tallon, Warren, Jaxon, Gemma, and Jettson. She also shared a lifelong bond with her brothers and their families — Robert, Karen, Erin, Andrew, Donald, Patty, Sean, and Colin. Mom believed family extended beyond bloodlines. If she loved you — or if you were loved by someone she loved — you were hers. Her heart made room for everyone.
Mom was born April 9, 1942 in Ossining, NY to Norma and Harold McILveen. She grew up in New York with her two brothers, Robert and Donald McIlveen. She married William Skerratt and started a family in New York then moved to Snohomish, Washington in 1967. William passed away in 1972. Mom married Wayne Clevenger in 1974 and her family continued to grow. They moved to McKinleyville, CA in 1976. Following her divorce in 1990, Mom eventually returned to Washington, where she met and married the love of her life, Hal Nugent. Hal was her soulmate, and their years together were filled with deep companionship and faith. After Hal’s passing, Mom moved to Florida to be near her mother, Norma — lovingly known as “Nana.”
In her final chapter, Mom returned to California to live with Veronica, who cared for her with extraordinary tenderness. They were truly peas in a pod. We are forever grateful to Veronica and her husband, Tom, for surrounding Mom with joy, dignity, and unwavering love in her final days.
Our family shares so many memories of Mom. A common theme and remembrance is her sweet, goofiness – an “Edith Bunker” quality about her. She was gullible and naive which allowed for many shenanigans among her children. Her grandchildren remember her fierce enthusiasm at family gatherings — especially during competitive backyard softball games. Cecil beautifully shared his childhood memory. “I remember the time Grandma was playing baseball with the family in her backyard in McKinleyville and swinging at the ball like she was going for a homerun every time. When she hit the ball, she took off like it was a World Series game. Of course, she wasn’t running fast, but it sure looked like she thought she was.”
Mom never met a stranger. She saw the good in people and carried genuine love for all living things. Though we ache in her absence, we see her spirit reflected in the kindness and the laughter of her grandchildren, and the compassion that continues to bind our family together.
Love heals. Time heals. And together, love and time wrap us in memories that remain bright and beautiful. We love you, Mom.