Julie Morris Huckaby

Julie Morris Huckaby, 64, beloved mother, grandmother, partner, and friend, passed away on Thursday, July 25th at home. Born on April 20, 1960, Julie was known for her brilliant mind and compassionate heart.

Julie was born in Klamath Falls, Oregon but spent most of her childhood years in Cave Spring, GA. After high school, Julie graduated from Jacksonville State University with a bachelor’s degree in nursing, a career that fit her caring, kind, and intelligent nature perfectly. During her career, Julie worked both in the Vail Valley, CO area and Chattanooga, TN hospitals and made life long and treasured friendships with those she worked with along the way. Julie was an astute businesswoman, successfully opening and launching her own home infusion company in Chattanooga, TN. Her most recent accomplishment was writing educational textbooks for nursing students and became a published and recognized professional writer. Her success in these diverse healthcare fields was a testament to her intelligence, determination, and relentless drive.

Julie’s fun-loving and adventurous spirit led her to explore the world, always bringing back stories of newly made friendships and experiences she spoke of with palpable joy. She had a deep love for storytelling and preserving memories any way that she could. Her most favorite place and the origin of her happiest memories were made in the Colorado mountains, among her favorite Aspen trees. She loved the West, no matter the season, and her heart was most at peace there.

More than anything, Julie cherished her role as a grandmother. Her granddaughter, Arleigh, was the light of her life and she never missed an opportunity to take her on an adventure or turn simple moments into magical memories. Her ability to see the extraordinary in the ordinary was a gift she shared so generously.

Julie will be remembered for her warm and inviting spirit. She never met a stranger and made it her life’s priority to make sure that everyone around her felt loved, giving of herself tirelessly. She created environments for all that reflected her deep love and care for people.

Julie is survived by her loving and adoring family, including the love of her life, Phillip Rutledge; her cherished granddaughter, Arleigh Mountjoy; her children, Sam Huckaby, Casey Mountjoy (Drue); Luke Rutledge (Kimberly), her mother and step father, Beth Montgomery and Dennis Dinges; her sister, Susan Shiflett; nephew Tyler Shiflett (Claire); and a lifetime’s worth of very special friends.

A celebration of Julie’s life will be held in the coming weeks, with details to follow.