Judy Pryor

Judy Rowena (Koepp) Pryor was born in her maternal grandfather’s home in Kendrick, Idaho on December 13, 1939 and died in her home in Puyallup, Washington on August 14, 2026, following a long illness.

Judy grew up with her late parents, Walter Koepp and Rowena (Ramey) Koepp, her sister Lynn (Koepp) Heimgartner, and her late brother Walter “Skip” Koepp on their farm in Cameron, Idaho. She graduated from Kendrick High School in 1958 and went on to attend the University of Idaho for one year before moving to Spokane, Washington.

In Spokane she met Ronald Pryor. They married in 1964 and moved to Bellingham, Washington, while Ron pursued his degree. Following Ron’s graduation, they settled in Puyallup, Washington, where they raised three daughters: Ceré Hobert, Rona Pryor, and Erin Pereira.

Judy was active in the community, participating in the Junior Women’s Club as a young mother and working in the Hobby Hall of the Puyallup Fair every September for many years. She was a faithful member of Our Savior Lutheran Church for more than 50 years, and enjoyed her work and her colleagues as a title clerk at McCallum License Agency for more than 25 years.

Judy loved the outdoors and was an avid golfer, hiker, dancer, and skier. A long-time member of the Puyallup Eagles, she could be found there on most Friday evenings, dancing the night away. Her Thursdays were spent with the Oakbrook Puyallup Skiers at Crystal Mountain in the winter, and at any available golf course the rest of the year. When her skiing days ended, she loved to travel with her friends from church, reluctantly then enthusiastically taking the wheel of the RV.

She was devoted to her extended family, spending time each year at the family farm and the surrounding mountains, rivers, and forests with her parents, siblings, aunts and uncles, cousins, nieces and nephews, all of whom were dear to her. Camping and fishing with her family brought her a lot of joy.

Judy’s greatest love was her grandchildren: Lindsey Watt, Tyler Watt, Isabella Pereira and Samantha Pereira. She was a constant in their lives, cheering them on at games and concerts, teaching them card games, and cooking with them. She will be greatly missed.

A memorial service for Judy will be held on Thursday, October 1, at 12pm at Our Savior Lutheran Church in Tacoma. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in her honor to the National Park Foundation or Multicare Foundations.