Judith Katherine (McCavic) Smyth, 74, passed away June 5 from complications of a recent diagnosis of cancer and other related illnesses at St. Charles Medical Center in Bend.

Judy was a devoted mother, wife, companion, sister, and friend. Judy was a person who would tell the truth even if it was tough for hear, but would give you her last dime or a cooked meal to those who she cared for or were in need. She sacrificed all her life to allow her children to have the opportunities they were fortunate to have. Judy cherished her time and the friendships she made over the years. In her last days, she wished to be sitting with the girls at the golf course having a beer and playing cards, or visiting with dear friends who she had not recently spoken to.

Judith Katherine was born Feb. 26, 1944, at Harney County Hospital in Burns to Rose Marie (Lapatka) McCavic and Edward Anthony McCavic. She joined her brother, James Edward McCavic, where they lived and ran the Hines Apartments. Edward worked his way to Harney County from Virginia, Minn., to work at Edward Hines Lumber Company in Hines. Once he earned enough money, he paid for train fare for Rose and Jim to join him. Judy was born a little more than two years after the family was reunited in Hines. Throughout her childhood, Judy was very outgoing and involved with all the neighborhood activities along with the other kids she grew up with. She had a love of animals that she continued to cultivate all her life. She loved to ride horses and would later have one of her own that she kept at a family friend’s farm out in the valley, and would work during the summer to allow her to keep it there.

Judy attended Hines Elementary School and Burns Union High School. During her time at school, she excelled athletically and academically. She was the class treasurer, involved in band, and most other social activities. Outside of school, Judy enjoyed swimming in the summer, being a lifeguard at the old Edward Hines pool, 4-H, and was a Harney County fair princess. After graduating high school in 1962, she attended the University of Oregon where she studied education. During the years she attended college, there was very little sport offerings for women. While there, she was a member of the women’s bowling team where she helped her team earn a fourth-place finish in the conference. After the fall term of her sophomore year, Judy returned to Burns where she worked in the office at the Edward Hines Lumber Company in hopes of earning enough money to return to college. While she was home, she met Loris Alan Smyth, aka “Wart” Smyth. She said they met while playing fast-pitch softball; she was the catcher, and he was the umpire. Later, he proposed to her while taking a trip to Steens Mountain. They were married Jan. 2, 1963, in Winnemucca, Nev. On Sept. 26, 1964, they were blessed with the birth of a daughter, Lynn Michelle Smyth, and two years later, the birth of a son, Scott Darius Smyth, on Oct. 26, 1966.

They lived and raised their family on a small cattle ranch on the Silvies River. Judy and Loris raised cattle, horses, and for a short period, sheep, while living on the ranch. From 1966 until her retirement 37 years later, Judy worked as a mail carrier for the United States Postal Service. She began work prior to the birth of her second child. Judy worked hard and missed very few days to help maintain the family ranch and put her children through school. She was one of the most efficient mail carriers in the Western U.S. After several poor market years in the late 1970s and early 1980s, they gave up ranching and moved to town in 1982, after Lynn graduated from high school. Judy enjoyed bowling, fishing, going to hunting camp, taking short vacation trips to Nevada, and supporting her children in their endeavors. She made it a priority to make as many of her children’s sporting events as possible, throughout high school and college. After both children went to college, Judy and Loris took up golf, where they developed many friends.

Judy is survived by her son, Scott Darius Smyth; brother, James McCavic; beloved companion, Robert Flathers; and several nieces, nephews, cousins, and dear friends.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Rose and Edward McCavic; husband, Loris Alan Smyth; daughter, Lynn Michelle Smyth; and beloved labrador “A-1”.

She will be missed greatly. What a great woman and mother.

At Judy’s request, there will not be a service or funeral. There may be a remembrance event at the golf course for those wishing to get together and talk about the good times. If you wish to make a contribution in Judith’s memory, you may send it to the Burns High School golf team or the Tu-Wa-Kii Nobi after-school program at the Burns Paiute Tribe, in care of LaFollette’s Chapel, P.O. Box 488, Burns, OR 97720.