In Memoriam
Judy Melendrez
March 11, 1940 to Sept. 11, 2024
We were all saddened when we learned that Judy had passed away on Sept. 11 after being diagnosed with incurable lung cancer only a few months before. We square dancers have all grown to love Judy with her happy smile and her tremendous love of dancing. Judy not only square danced, learning mainstream in 2000, plus the following year and advanced at one time, but she also took countless lessons to perfect her round dancing over the years. She supported most of the clubs that danced at the hall. She and Vonda Clayton used to go line dancing together all the time for many years.
Judy was a fairly private person so I don’t know a whole lot about her personal life only tidbits here and there. She was on Facebook so we all knew about her love of her family, her two sons and grandchildren, her late brother and two sisters—lots of family gatherings and while she rarely missed a square dance at the hall or elsewhere on visitations, if she did, it was for family. She also loved to gamble and played split the pot each and every time, waving around her winning ticket quite regularly as she was very lucky. It was my understanding that she often went to the casinos to play and hit the jackpot. Her favorite game at the club picnics was the dog race game which Joy always brought.
Judy grew up in the McKenzie Valley and attended McKenzie schools through high school. She, Betty Aukeerman, and Bill Herington (former member) all attended there but no and had a special bond because of that. After retirement from McKenzie Willamette Hospital and moving into Springfield, she began working for Selco Credit Union on Harlow and Gateway for many, many years as greeter and information guide until her health declined last spring. She only worked part-time for the credit union but enjoyed every minute, meeting and helping new people and seeing occasional square dancers come through too.
She will be missed not only by the square dance community but by all the people who met her over the years and of course her family. Farewell, Judy, our hall will never be quitte the same.
Gaynor Hintz
