There was nothing ordinary about Judith Octavia [Jeeves] Tuohey. Beginning at birth. Judith was born in New Manilla, Philippines on August 2nd, 1935 to William Richard Jeeves, a young English Chemist and to Winifred Lee [Mahoney] Jeeves, an American daughter of an Army officer. Fleeing the mid-Pacific after WWII broke, the family immigrated to the United States and made their home in Michigan. Blonde haired, blue eyed Judith delighted in answering when asked, "What are you?", a question she despised, "I am a Filipina."

Judith Octavia Jeeves was raised well and doted, if not fawned upon, by her parents. Judith was well educated, well liked, stubborn, pretty, intelligent and very, very funny. Judith traveled the world studying music and art. Judith was gifted with words and she picked up foreign languages as easily as one picks up flowers. Many were aware that Judith was an accomplished harpist. Fewer were aware that Judith was a singer, a dancer, and an artist. She played a multitude of stringed instruments by ear.

Judith loved letters. Her favorite authors were William Shakespeare and Rupert Brook. Judith's favorite poem was "If", by Rudyard Kipling. Judith so loved letters she went first to Mount Vernon College for Women then transferred to The George Washington University to pursue a degree in Literature.

Of significance, while at The George Washington University, Judith broke a glass ceiling by joining the Air Force ROTC, becoming the first female Air Force ROTC Cadet at George Washington, the first year coeds were able to join the ROTC at GW. That same year, 1956, in the opposite extreme, Judith was crowned The Apple Blossom Princess.

It was at The George Washington University where Judith Jeeves met Conrad Tuohey, a handsome Korean War Combat Veteran in an English class. This couple, nonconformists before they even met one another, were destined to marry. The story is that Judith proposed to Conrad at the foot of the Washington Monument. They eloped and were married in a courthouse in Maryland. They then spent the next sixty-three yearstogether.

The Tuoheys moved across country after Conrad graduated law school and the couple settled down in Southern California. Conrad began his law practice and Judith taught English as a Second Language to Spanish speaking students in Azuza public schools. She also volunteered, part-time, teaching ESL to adults in the community.

After a few years, in the 1960s, Judith and Conrad had two daughters, Octavia ("Tavie") and Heather. The couple bought their first new car and a neat tract home in Orange County.

Meanwhile, throughout the United States the 1960s was an era of protest. The Civil Rights Movement had people protesting against racism. At the same time, a new understanding of the role of women in society awakened college women in to become feminists. America became deeply involved with Viet Nam.

By the late 1960s into the early 1970s, Judith and Conrad were enigmas in conservative Orange County, protesting our government and the Viet Nam War together and individually, all the while supporting our troops and veterans. Judith created a "Home for the Holidays" program where service members from Marine Corps Air Station El Toro were able to stay with OC families during the holidays rather than remain at the base. It was not uncommon for the Tuoheys to have 10-12 Marines staying at their home at any given time. Judith joined and became an active member of "Another Mother for Peace" ("War is not Healthy for Children and Other Living Things").

Judith had long before burned her bra and her white tea gloves, in favor of raising her fist for "Women's Liberation" as the movement was called then. Judith served as a mentor for women younger than she and took groups of college women under her wing. Judith led protests, hosted meetings and book readings at the Tuohey home.

Judith and her husband Conrad were fervent anti-racists their entire lives. Judith and Conrad joined Civil Rights marches and brought with them their toddlers Octavia ("Tavie") and Heather. The Tuoheys marched alongside MLK and other great leaders of the Civil Rights Movement.

By the early 1970's, the Tuohey family of four had become a family of six. Daughters Meighan and Caragh were born. One day, Judith kissed her daughters and Conrad and announced to the family that she was going to nursing school. And that's exactly what Judith did. At around that time, Conrad announced his candidacy for Congress.

Nonplussed, Judith stepped up her game and served as Conrad's surrogate. While walking precincts for Conrad, Judith seized the opportunity to also campaign for Judith's candidate of choice for President, Shirley Chisolm ("Unbought and Unbossed").

Judith finishes what she starts so it surprised no one that Judith completed nursing school during all of this. It is what Judith did with her nursing license that was remarkable.

Immediately after becoming licensed, Judith volunteered to work Operation Babylift, helping to evacuate 3,300 infants from war torn Viet Nam. Immediately following that, Judith provided volunteer humanitarian services to refugees and to people seeking political asylum in the United States.

Moving forward, Judith, our feminist, was one of the nurses, Judith a volunteer, who opened the first Planned Parenthood office in Orange County, Anaheim/Fullerton.

Judith found her niche however, working Disaster Services through Red Cross and as a leader with the National Disaster Medical Action Team. Judith's first international disaster was the Mexico City Earthquake in 1985. When it was discovered that Judith was fluent in Spanish, Judith was asked to stay an extra four weeks in Mexico on the Disaster while the rest of her team returned to the United States..


Judith traveled the world as a volunteer for over thirty years as a disaster nurse. Judith created what she called a "Dirty Knees Nursing" handbook for the American Red Cross. It is used as a guide by the International Red Cross. Judith was dispatched to disasters including plane crashes, earthquakes, hurricanes, floods, fires, tornadoes, and to the Oklahoma City Bombing. None of Judith's deployments were for less than two weeks. Judith delivered babies in mud and she held the hands of desperate, sometimes dying people through rubble.


If you watched news during the decades of 1980, 1990, or 2000 where people were speaking at international disaster sites, there is little doubt that you saw and heard Judith Tuohey reporting from "ground zero."

Judith's work in disaster nursing prompted Judith to create a program which the Red Cross implemented for its disaster workers and other first responders for onsite crisis counseling. Until Judith, there was no debriefing program available to help alleviate inevitable PTSD which occurs when disaster workers spend day after day working with people experiencing the worst losses in their lives.

Judith maintained her nursing license until the day she died. In fact, up until her early 80's, just a few years ago, Judith administered flu shots at Orange County senior flu clinics, often to seniors younger than she.

On October 28, 2019 at the age of 85, Conrad died. Judith said that she never wished to live to be older than he. Accordingly, Judith passed gently away on July 23rd, 2021, just 10 days before her 86th birthday.

Judith died literally surrounded by all four of her daughters.

Judith died as she lived. With dignity.

Judith Octavia [Jeeves] Tuohey is survived by her daughter Octavia Jeeves Tuohey and her children, Gabriel Conrad Tuohey and Grace Octavia Tuohey, Judith's daughter Heather Gravier Tuohey, Judith's daughter Meighan Judith Tuohey-Carpenter and her daughter, Summer Raine Tuohey-Carpenter, Judith's daughter Caragh Rose [Tuohey] Osler, and her children, Ryan Michael McDowell and Michaela Rose McDowell, Judith's son-in-law, Dustin Luke Osler, his son, Wyatt Luke Osler, and Judith's brother Jerome Lee Jeeves.

Judith was preceded in death by her husband, partner and best friend, Conrad Gravier Tuohey, Judith's parents William Richard and Winifred Lee [Mahoney] Jeeves, Judith's grandson, Colin Gravier Tuohey, Judith's brother and sister-in-law, William Richard Jeeves, Jr. and Mary Ann [Kempa] Jeeves, Judith's mother-in-law, Rose Gravier Nassis, and Judith's father-in-law, James Leonard Tuohey.

In searching for photographs, the daughters found this poem tucked into Judith's wallet. We have no idea how long she had been carrying it or where she found it, but it was lovingly hand cut and hidden behind pictures and cards. It was obviously meaningful to Judith. We believe Judith wished it to be here.

From Judith:

Remember Me by Debbie Ann Walters
To the living, I am gone.
To the sorrowful, I will never return.
To the angry, I was cheated.
But to the happy, I am at peace.
And to the faithful, I have never left.
I cannot speak, but I can listen.
I cannot be seen, but I can be heard.
So as you stand upon a shore,
Gazing at the beautiful sea-
Remember me.
Remember me in your heart,
Your thoughts.
And your memories.
Of the times we cried.
Of the times we fought,
The times we laughed.
For if you think of me,
I will never have gone.


In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to:

The California Progressive Alliance https://actionnetwork.org/fundraising/supportthecpa/

or to

The National Association of People Against Bullying https://www.napab.org/donate/

If you would link to view the obituary of Conrad Gravier Tuohey please follow the link below.
https://www.mccormickandson.com/obituaries/Conrad-Tuohey-2/