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.