Former Sulphur Springs Community School Principal Judy Veale died on Monday at the age of 71, close friends announced.

A beloved teacher from the Sulphur Springs School District, Veale started teaching in 1974, and after teaching at Sulphur Springs Community School, would eventually become the principal.

“She was probably one of the most popular teachers who ever taught (at Sulphur Springs) she was loved by everyone who knew her,” said Gwen Hougo, a friend and fellow teacher who shared a Kindergarten classroom with Veale for a decade.

Together, Veale and Hougo founded the Sulphur Springs Community School annual Kindergarten Circus, a favorite event for their students, Hougo said.

Veale was known to her friends as a giving person, who always made time for her students and loved ones.

“She made the world a better place, and she touched so many childrens’ lives in such a positive way,” said Hougo.

Veale suffered a serious fall last Friday. After a weekend stay at the hospital, Veale’s condition took a sudden turn for the worse, and she passed suddenly Monday, Jan.13, 2021, according to Hougo.

Veale was described by her friends as being among “the sweetest, kindest and smartest” women they had ever had the pleasure of knowing. She enjoyed adventures in the outdoors as much as she enjoyed a good joke.

Joyce Carson, a friend and former teacher at Sulphur Springs, spoke highly of Veale’s dedication to her students and the Santa Clarita Valley community, especially in her volunteer work with local nonprofits such as the Michael Hoefflin Foundation and the Santa Clarita Valley Child and Family Center.

“Judy, she was real serious about her work and very professional, but she loved to laugh, loved a good joke and always had a ready smile for you,” said Carson. “Judy was very calming. She was really a mentor for so many teachers, students looked up to her thinking ‘I want to be like that.’ She was just a very caring good person.”

Veale is survived by her husband of 52 years, Larry Veale, their children and grandchildren.

The Carsons (left) with the Veales (right) Photo courtesy of Joyce Carson

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