Sadly, Dr. Judith Naylor, a highly respected Pediatrician, in Kamloops, passed away suddenly on January 10,2024 with a good friend at her bedside. She was predeceased by her parents, William and Ethel Naylor and her brother, Derek Naylor. She leaves behind many close friends.
Judith was born February 9, 1937 in Banbury North, County of Oxford, England. She graduated from high school and went into medical school in England. After completing her medical degree at the University of London, she went on to complete an internship at Kings College. Before leaving England she did several diplomas relating to Child Health.
Being eager to become a Pediatrician, she emigrated to Canada and started a residency program in Pediatrics at Vancouver General Hospital. Her 5 year residency training also took her to Ontario, Saskatchewan and Ohio.
After completing her residency, she moved to Kamloops where she spent her entire medical career caring for children and their families. Once as head of the department of Pediatrics, she was instrumental in starting a Neonatal Intensive Care program at Royal Inland Hospital.
In her early years she was a competitive swimmer. She lived for her dogs and over the years she enjoyed the company of many female black Labrador Retrievers. She was always interested in everything to do with her homeland.
She loved the outdoors. In her spare time she enjoyed cross country skiing, hiking, fishing and grouse hunting. Her favorite vacation was an annual getaway to the Chilcotin to camp and hunt grouse.
At her request, there will be no service. In lieu of flowers, donations to one of the following: BCSPCA, Food Bank, RIH Foundation would be appreciated in memory of Judith Naylor.
Condolences may be sent to the family from
www.kamloopsfuneralhome.com
12 Tributes
She was a great pediatrician and good friend.
Paula
Condolences to all of us on the loss of a great and powerfully spirited member of our society.
When Judith and I met because of the proposed Ajax mine, it wasn’t for the first time. Actually, other than my parents, she and my mom’s doctor are the people that helped my start as a Kamloops citizen. Dr. Naylor was there to check my health at the time of my birth because my mom had preeclampsia during her pregnancy. We were told that if I hadn’t been as strong as I was, and specifically, if I hadn’t been a girl, I wouldn’t have likely survived. I like the thought that we were two tough women when we met for the first time, and two tough women when we met again, 40-ish years later, in our united effort to keep the environment better for all children being born into it.
I’ll always be thankful to Judith for providing the car transport between Kelowna and Kamloops of experts who came from America to educate us on the impacts of mining in Utah. She was the first person to extend hospitality to Dr. Brian Moench (Utah Physicians for a Healthy Environment) who shared medical information on the hazards of trapped outputs from mining in a valley city like ours – Salt Lake City, and Cherise Udell (President of Utah Moms for Clean Air) who shared the document she co-developed with people in mining-impacted places all over the world, called the “Mining Playbook,” which demonstrates how to combat the strategies used by mining companies as they work their way into communities.
Judith’s transportation on the ground meant that Dr. Moench, who dislikes flying to the degree that it could have prevented him from coming to Kamloops, had one less flight to take.
I will always appreciate the power of Judith’s presence and her devotion to health.
Deepest condolences to her closest people.
Gina Morris
Sad to hear this she was an amazing Pediatrician, I have many fond memories of her during my working days on Pediatrics. Condolences to family and friends
What a woman! It was my honour to work with her for many years. May she hunt and hike with her beloved dogs in the afterlife. Thinking of you Susan♥️
So sorry to hear of Judith’s passing. We will be forever grateful to Judith and Toni for their compassion and supporti in treating our son for severe frostbite. Without their guidance and care he would be an amputee.
She was an amazing person, rest in peace
Dr.Naylor saved my daughter’s life 43 years ago…I am forever in her debt…She was a brilliant…caring and wonderful person…a very special Lady….she will be missed….
Sorry to learn our beloved Judith Naylor has passed on. I am eternally grateful to have journeyed briefly alongside her on the RIH pediatric unit and later on the anti- Ajax mining cause. It was during that time that I got to know Judith best as a devoted life long learner when we shared experiences as distance students in a course on How to Conduct a Community Health Impact Assessment offered by the University of Montreal. What a pleasure it was to call Judith a colleague and a friend. Rest in peace Judith❤️
RIP Judy. I always enjoyed working with Judy during our many years as colleagues at Royal Inland Hospital. Her competence and reassuring demeanour was welcomed by patients, parents and staff.
When we think of bravery, compassion and integrity Judy stands out above the rest. The people of Kamloops have lost a true heroine. As we sit with our two Labrador retrievers this morning we are thinking of you Judy… the whistle in the sky is calling and the dogs are coming…
Farewell, Sandy and Daryl Abraham
I worked with Judith for many years, what a wonderful person and doctor.
My personal memory was when she helped me with our son( who had asthma). Judith arranged for my son to have the first machine in Kamloops,to administer ventolin. It saved his life and we were so thank you for her help and the company that built the machine in Lethbridge Alberta( under her direction) .
I will always be indebted to her and smile when I hear her name, thank you Judith!
Cheryl
My sincere condolences to the family. I am forever indebted to Dr Naylor for saving my sons life in 1976 in 100 Mile House, BC. She flew up via helicopter every morning for 8 days to treat my son who had mumps menigitis.
RIP you are with the angels now.