Judith Kay Chamberlin

To Our Dearest Friends and Family,

We are torn with emotion as we share with you all that Judy passed away on September 28th, 2021. A devoted wife of 58 years, mother of three, and grandmother of three, Judith Kay Chamberlin led a blessed life and touched the hearts of those who knew her. Mom passed away quietly in her sleep surrounded by family in her home at Columbine Commons. In Judy’s death, as in life, she has shown us grace, faith in Christ, devotion to family and friends, and all with a hint of sarcasm followed by a rolling of her eyes. In the time leading up to her passing, she spoke of truths and miracles. Her truth is that she was prepared and anxious to meet her Savior and be reunited with the love of her life, Rob. The miracle in moving on for her was to be free of pain, and for those of us left, the knowledge that she is surrounded by a circle of love.

Judith Kay James Chamberlin was born in Portsmouth Virginia on April 19, 1940, where her parents Emelie and Charley James were stationed in the lead up to World War II. Like many families during the war, the family came together while the men served oversees. For Judy, she grew up with the support of loving aunts, uncles, and cousins in Southern Illinois while her father was deployed in the Pacific. Charley was a casualty of the war when his destroyer was sunk in the Coral Sea leaving Judy, at three years old, her older brother Bob, and mother, Emelie, to carve out a life as a family. As fate would have it, the James family settled in Colorado Springs, living off Nevada Street while Judy attended high school. After graduation, she moved to Boulder to attend the University of Colorado and graduated with a bachelor’s in education. While at CU, she met Rob Chamberlin on a blind date and six months later began their lives as husband and wife. A devoted spouse, Judy taught school in the Phoenix area supporting Rob as he worked on a Graduate degree at Thunderbird in International Studies. Those were lean times, but also times that built the foundation of a lasting marriage and instilled a commitment to not only each other but to family. Rob’s first professional job came shortly after graduation taking the couple to the Bay area in San Francisco. It was at that time the couple transitioned to family status with the birth of their first child, Susan Marie. From California, Judy and family became truly international with Rob securing a job in Mexico City where the family grew again with the birth of Jeffrey Miller. After several years abroad, the draw of family brought Rob and Judy back to Colorado where Linda Kay was born. The following years included stops in Atlanta, Dallas, Albany, and New Orleans.

A “Momma Bear” before the term was widely known, Judy kept up with the kid’s activities, was engaged in the Church, and volunteered at local Hospitals. As the children grew older, Rob and Judy found the joy of being empty nesters with time spent travelling both across the US and internationally. Retirement brought the family back together in northern Colorado where Rob and Judy settled to take care of other family members and to be closer to grandchildren. Her three grandsons, Levi Perry, Weston Chamberlin, and Trawick Chamberlin were a great source of pride. She was proud to see Levi and Weston both graduate from High School and start college and just before her passing watched Trawick participate in the Windsor High School Homecoming celebration.

Throughout her eighty-one years with us here on earth, Judy touched many lives and hearts. As we reflect on those memories, there was always an underlying sense of purpose in everything she did tinged with humor that let you know everything was going to be ok. Judy placed her family and children first, and as we reflect on her life, she was blessed. We will forever appreciate the love and support that friends and family have shown Judy and our family over the years. We are thankful for the opportunity to hold hands with Judy thru life and take comfort that she is now holding hands with Rob and Christ in heaven.