Judith Milligan

Judith Elaine Milligan, loving wife, mother, and teacher, passed away in Berne on Sept. 22 after a battle with cancer. A longtime resident of Portland, Judy was 84.

Judy leaves behind her husband of 64 years, Doug; her son David (wife: Dawn) of rural Portland; and daughter Barbara of Cape Cod, Massachusetts; along with her grandchildren Shyla Houser, Chancellor Milligan, Patrick and Michael Ryan, and AJ and Samantha Pettyjohn; and nine great-grandchildren. She leaves behind a sister, Phyllis, of Fort Wayne.

Her brother Bob predeceased her.

Born in Bryant in 1939, Judy was the youngest daughter of Albert and Vera (Shoemaker) LeFavour. Living in the Westchester area of Jay County, Judy attended Bryant High School and graduated from Portland High School in 1957. She went on to study business at International Business College before beginning her family.

In her early career, Judy worked for Mutual Security, G.C. Murphy and Portland Forge. She also served as a tax accountant for Takats Insurance Agency.

In 1970, Judy returned to college to earn a degree in elementary education at Ball State where she later also earned her master’s degree. For 20 years, Judy taught fourth and fifth grade in the Portland elementary schools — East Elementary, Judge Haynes and General Shanks. After retiring from the Jay County school system, she taught briefly for South Adams Schools. Judy was a loving and caring teacher to hundreds of school children who remember her fondly. Always going the extra mile, Judy ensured that her students had food to eat and books to read, warm hats, mittens and coats, and even bought Christmas presents for those who might not otherwise receive anything.

Serving alongside her husband Doug, Judy supported and volunteered for many local community organizations including Jay County High School Band Boosters, the First Presbyterian Church, the Jay County Fair Board, for which she served as secretary, and the board of directors of Arts Place. For many years, she was also the secretary of the Jay County Public Library Board of Directors and later served as secretary of the Geneva Library Board of Directors. She was a member of AAUW, Tri Kappa, BPW and Beta Sigma Phi among many other community groups.

Judy and Doug retired to Rainbow Lake in the 1990s and later moved to Swiss Village.

A celebration of life will be on Wednesday, Sept. 27, 2023, at noon in the Swiss Village auditorium with Pastor Daython Foust presiding. Visitation will be from 10 a.m. till noon prior to the services. Private burial will be in Green Park Cemetery in Portland. 

Memorials can be made to Swiss Village or First Missionary Church in Berne.

Baird-Freeman Funeral Home in Portland is handling the arrangements. 

Condolences may be expressed at bairdfreeman.com.