Carol Joyce Becker McGaugh
Carol Joyce Becker McGaugh
May 13, 1930 – June 19, 2009
Carol Joyce Becker McGaugh,
known to everyone as Becky,
passed away peacefully on June
19th after a long illness with
Parkinson’s Disease. She will be
deeply missed by so many who
were graced by her love. Becky
was a wonderful wife, mother,
mother-in-law, grandma, sisterin-
law, aunt and true friend. She
is survived by her husband James
(Jim), a neurobiology professor at
UC Irvine, her son Douglas McGaugh and his wife Lynne,
her daughter Janice Morrow and her husband Bill and her
daughter Linda Alva, as well as her grandchildren Billy,
Scotty, Kaitlin and Kirby Morrow and Adelaide, Tristan
and Phoebe Alva. She was preceded in death by her
parents George and Ruth Becker and her brother Eldon.
Becky was born on May 13, 1930 in San Jose, California
and grew up on the family fruit orchard. She attended
Fremont High School in Cupertino where she was active
in sports, drama and music and vacationed on the beach
in Santa Cruz with family and friends. She attended San
Jose State University where she met Jim, the love of her
life. They were married in Sunnyvale in 1952. During the
early years of their marriage, they lived in Berkeley when
Jim was a graduate student and, subsequently, in Santa
Clara, Rome Italy and Eugene Oregon before moving to
Newport Beach in 1964. She loved music and the arts
and enjoyed traveling with Jim on many trips throughout
the world, but especially loved spending time at their
cabin in Big Bear with family and friends. She attended
all of her children’s activities and performances and later
all those of her seven grandchildren. Becky loved being a
grandmother and made her grandchildren feel special and
loved. She delighted in celebrating holidays and made
each one a treasured and memorable event with special
home decorations and favorite family meals. For many years
Becky was a caring and dedicated preschool teacher. She
was a kind, gentle, generous and thoughtful friend to many,
including neighbors, friends in the university community,
fellow members of Parkinson’s Disease groups and the
many graduate students and colleagues who studied and
worked with Jim in research. She was a gracious hostess and
delighted in planning dinners and parties for family, friends
and students. She had a great love of the flowers and plants
that warmly decorated her home and garden. She also
loved animals and over the years encouraged her children
to have many kinds of pets. Becky had a warm, sensitive
and gentle sense of humor and the patience and wisdom to
soothe the sorrow of others. She was a treasure to everyone
who knew her and will be missed dearly by family and
friends. Special thanks to all the wonderful doctors, nurses
and healthcare professionals who so lovingly cared for
Becky during her illness.
A celebration of her life will be held on July 15th at 4:00
PM at the University Club, UC Irvine. In lieu of flowers,
contributions may be made in memory of Becky to the
Carol Becker McGaugh Undergraduate Award, c/o the
Center for the Neurobiology of Learning and Memory,
University of California, Irvine 92697-3800.
All the latest on Orange County from Orange County.
Get our free TimesOC newsletter.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Daily Pilot.