Dedicated to the citizens of Mason County, Washington since 1886

Judy Fae Hankins

Judy Fae Hankin

October 7, 1947 ~ September 14, 2023

Judy filled many important roles during her life on earth.

Judy Hankins was a faithful wife to Dan Hankins for nearly 50 years. They raised three children, and enjoyed many family camping adventures on the Oregon Coast. Judy loved riding her 3-wheeler along the beach, as fast as it would go, and playing follow the leader in the sand dunes. Her Pancakes always tasted better, when made over a camp stove with a little dust and dirt blown into the mix.

Dan and Judy lived for many years in Shelton, WA. The last few years they moved to Spokane to retire. Dan never wavered; he loved and cared for his wife. He learned to cook (kinda) and he managed all of her care. He was there day and night whenever she needed him, and he was there on her last day.

Judy was also a valued member of the ITT Rayonier family for most of her adult life. She started as an entry level secretary and worked her way up to Executive Secretary to the Director. She was a hard worker, she knew her job inside and out, they relied on her to train all the new hires, and she also handled all the employee medical and health insurance benefits. Even when the Shelton branch moved to Hoquiam, WA, Judy made that long commute, morning and night, five days a week, always on time and ready to work.

Judy was a daughter and first child of Richard Tinsley and Jackie Kobs. She was the oldest sibling and she helped raise her younger brother, while her Mom and Stepdad were long haul truckers, who were out on the road most of the time. She was preceded in death by Richard (Dick) Tinsley, her father, Jackie Kobs, her mother, and William (Bill) Tinsley, her brother, all of Spokane WA.

Judy was also a caring Step Mother to Dan's two sons, Scott Hankins and Grant Hankins. They shared in all the hard work, as well as the fun family outings. Judy was the prolific author of many chore lists, as well as a collector of mislaid pocket knives. She was also a devoted grandmother, and a great-grandmother to their children, whom she very much enjoyed.

As a young woman, Judy became a Mom to her daughter, Jackie (Gaddy) Schoneck. She was a stern Mom, with very high expectations. I always did my best to make Mom proud. I remember a day when I was very young, I spent the morning catching frogs and putting them in my pocket. When Mom called me in for lunch, she took one look at me and told me to go put my muddy clothes in the washer and clean up to eat. I will never forget the squeal she made when she later found the frogs dried like fruit leather to the inside of her clothes dryer.

As I was growing up, Mom loved to sit in a sunny window, and read her book... ALONE. Coincidentally, that was always my favorite time to start chatting her up about anything and everything under the sun. My other favorite time to quiz her on all things interesting only to me, was in the early morning, as I was getting ready for school, and her for work. She didn't always adore my morning perkiness, or my long-winded montages about nothing in particular, in the tiny bathroom that we shared, but those are some of my fondest memories.

Mom was incredibly intelligent, and fiercely determined, and above all, she was an intense example of a strong independent woman; I would like to think, that I got some of that from her.

Judy's role as Nana to Zachary Schoneck, son of Jackie and Randy Schoneck, might have been her favorite. By the time she became a Nana, her time and energy were more plentiful, because she wasn't working all those long hours. She so loved watching Zach grow up and have adventures of his own. Almost every phone call to me, the very first words out of her mouth were, "Where is Zach this week, and what in the world is he up to?" She absolutely lived vicariously through Zach's world travels and his many adventures.

Finally, if you knew Judy for any length of time, then you knew she was also a Warrior. Mom had more fight and more drive and more determination than any other person I have ever known; Mom was fierce. She was an absolute force, and she met any strife, and every hardship, completely head on, she just never quit.

Mom built herself a life, she had a successful career, and she raised a good solid family. Her independent spirit and her sense of adventure will live on in the lives of those she touched.

"May you now and forever, be at Peace Mom."

 

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