Judith Anne (Wilson) Matheson

1934 – 2021

Judy was born in Victoria, British Columbia to Robert Hunter Wilson and Marjorie Anne (née Bell). Shortly after Judy was born, the Wilson family moved to Vancouver, where Judy’s sister Jeri was born in 1938.

In 1941, while their father was serving overseas, the family moved to Kelowna, where Judy and her sister grew up. Judy had fond memories of her years in Kelowna, where she enjoyed watersports, including synchronized swimming, and participated in the Lady of the Lake Pageant.

Judy was always successful at school. Especially at her grade 11 year, which she spent at St. Margaret’s in Victoria. In her grade 12 year, where she graduated from Kelowna High School in 1951, she won a large entrance scholarship to the University of British Columbia.

Judy completed only one year at UBC, but it was an eventful year. She lived in residence at Fort Camp, and met the man she would marry, Roger Matheson. It was love at first sight. But, as she was only 17 years old when they met, their families encouraged them to wait a few years to marry.

Judy went back to Kelowna for awhile, and put her love of language to work. She worked as a copyrighter at the local radio station, CKOV. She even had her own weekly radio program. Later she moved to Vancouver (living with her grandmother) to take up a job at CJOR.

Judy and Roger were married on August 28, 1954 in the Iona Chapel at UBC. It was a modest wedding, with her sister as maid-of-honour and Bob Chambers as best man. They had their reception at her grandmother’s house on 12th Avenue in Vancouver. Their first home together was an apartment in her grandmother’s house.

When it become clear that Judy’s mother was very ill, and Judy moved back to Kelowna to help care for her mother, Marjorie, and support her family until Marjorie died in March of 1955.

Later in 1955, Judy and Roger moved to Kimberly, BC, where Roger took over the management of a branch of Household Finance Company. Judy got a job working as a copyrighter at the local newspaper. They made many life-long friends there, and in June, 1957, their first child, Nancy, was born.

In 1958 the Matheson family moved back to the Lower Mainland for Roger’s work. They lived for a year in Roger’s father’s summer cabin in Ioco, Port Moody. Then, in the summer of 1959, they moved into a brand-new house on Dundonald Drive in the subdivision of Glenayre, in Port Moody, where the family would live for over 20 years.

A mere two months after moving into their new home, Judy gave birth to their son, Dan. The family was complete.

Life in Glenayre was good. Nancy and Dan went to elementary school by just jumping over the back fence. The house was always filled with the kids’ friends, tempted by the fresh, homemade bread, homemade jam and warm chocolate chip cookies. She threw her considerable energy and creativity into homemaking, and baked beautiful cakes, knitted fabulous sweaters and sewed clothes for everyone.

In the early 1960s, the family undertook the first renovation of the house, finishing part of the basement to create a 4th bedroom and second bathroom. This was to allow Judy’s sister Jeri to move in with the family on Dundonald Drive for 2 years until she married in 1965. And then, for a year, Judy’s elderly, deaf grandfather, Henry (known to all as Granddad), lived with the family. It was a wonderful family time, but one can imagine it was quite a lot for Judy to handle.

In 1966, Judy was diagnosed with thyroid cancer, and was quickly whipped into to hospital for major surgery. It was a frightening time for all, but Judy came through. She was truly a cancer survivor, as not a sign reappeared for the rest of her life.

In 1970, life changed considerably, as Roger took his real estate license and opened Argus Estates Ltd. While Roger was studying for his real estate license, Judy took some bookkeeping courses. She worked with Roger at Argus Estates for the rest of their lives together.

In 1979 Judy planned a wedding for her daughter Nancy; she made the wedding dress, her own dress and even baked part of the wedding cake (the other half being baked by long-time friend Joie Gray). She and Roger saw Nancy and her new husband Ben Whiting married at Iona Chapel – the same chapel they had married in – on September 28.

Dan married his wife Holly Colbourne on February 9, 1980.

In 1981, Dan and Holly presented them with the 1st of three grandchildren – Lukas. Granddaughter, Sarah, was born in 1983, and to complete the set, Joseph was born early in 1985,

The early 1980’s was a challenging time in the real estate business. Judy and Roger gave up their home on Dundonald Drive. But, they rebounded, and in 1981 they bought a house on East 8th Avenue in New Westminster. After a renovation (they lived in the basement) they enjoyed their wonderful view home for a number of years.

Judy had always been creative, enjoying sewing, knitting, and decorative baking. But, when recovering from a surgery, Nancy brought her some chiselled calligraphy felt pens and a how-to book and a life-long passion for calligraphy was born. She taught herself for awhile, and later joined a calligraphy guild. When they later moved to Chemainus, she joined the Warmland Calligraphy Guild. As well as making some wonderful friends, she entered competitions and was even convinced to teach. A member of the Warmland Guild has created a tribute to her work in a lovely memorial at: https://issuu.com/bqualley/docs/judy_matheson

It had long been Roger’s dream to live on the waterfront, and in 1993 they started the process of building a house on property on Bare Point in Chemainus on Vancouver Island. In 1995 they made the move, and another chapter began. People loved to visit Judy and Roger at Bare Point. The house was frequent filled with kids and grandkids, who often brought friends. Ben and Nancy would visit from Ontario and stay for weeks. Boating friends would drop anchor and come for visits. Judy and Roger lived together in the house at Bare Point until Roger died in 2005.

Judy stayed in Chemainus for a year after Roger died. Then, deciding to be closer to family, Judy bought a small house in Chilliwack, and left Chemainus behind. Judy enjoyed being closer to family, and watching the grandchildren grow up. During the 16 years in Chilliwack, she was happy to see each of her grandchildren married. And was excited to meet her great grandchildren. The house become too much for her, so in her later years Judy lived in an assisted-living seniors’ building, the Birchwood in Chilliwack.

On May 5, 2021, Judy died quietly in her sleep in her apartment at the Birchwood.

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Judy passed away peacefully, at home, in the wee hours of May 5, at the age of 86. She will be joining her husband of 51 years, Roger Matheson, who passed away in 2005.

Judy will be remembered by her daughter Nancy and husband Ben (Whiting), her son Dan and wife Holly, her sister Jeri Krogseth, and husband Don, grandchildren Lukas and wife Danica, Sarah (Daintry) and husband Colin, Joseph and wife Alycia, and great-grandchildren Holden, Eli and Lily, and by many more family and friends.

Judy was born in Victoria, British Columbia to Robert Hunter Wilson and Marjorie Anne (née Bell). She grew up in Kelowna, and then moved to Vancouver to marry Roger. She was an intelligent and hardworking person. She worked as a copywriter in her early years. Later, she was a partner in Argus Estates, the real estate business that they ran together until Roger died. Judy was also a very creative woman. She was known for her wonderful cooking and baking, her beautiful knitting and sewing, and all manner of crafts. She was introduced to calligraphy in her middle years, and never looked back. She became a wonderful calligrapher, and eventually was even convinced to teach her craft. She was an active member of the Warmland Calligraphy Guild, and has been remembered in a lovely memorial at: https://issuu.com/bqualley/docs/judy_matheson

COVID rules prevents gathering for a service at this time. However, the family invites you to contribute your memories to this memorial site.

Memorial donations may be made to the BC SPCA or to the BC Cancer Foundation.