Honoring a physician, mentor, and champion of community-based naturopathic care.

Judy Evelyn (Priday) Peabody, ND, passed away on January 30, 2026, at the age of 78. Her life’s work reflected a deep belief in the healing power of nature, a devotion to community, and the responsibility to care for others with compassion and humility.

Born on March 23, 1947, in Redmond, Oregon, Dr. Peabody was the youngest of Loyd and Doris Priday’s children. She was raised on ranches throughout Central Oregon, where she developed a strong sense of independence and a lasting connection to the natural world. Those early experiences shaped her worldview and would later inform her approach to medicine, setting the foundation for her life’s work.

Dr. Peabody’s path to naturopathic medicine began with her own healing. After years of living with rheumatoid arthritis, she experienced a profound shift in her health through naturopathic care. That experience stayed with her. It sparked a curiosity that grew into a calling. Encouraged by those around her and supported by her husband, Jim, Dr. Peabody made the decision to pursue a medical education while raising her two children. This turning point led her to a new chapter focused on service and learning.

She graduated from the National College of Naturopathic Medicine in 1988, commuting daily from her family’s farm in Banks. Her time as a student was marked by determination, resilience, and a growing commitment to a form of medicine that treats the whole person. Her academic journey prepared her to give back to her community with newfound skills.

Dr. Peabody established her practice in Banks, where she quickly became a trusted provider for families across the community. She cared for patients across generations, often understanding the broader context of their health because she had treated their loved ones as well. Her work was grounded, practical, and deeply personal.

In 1989, just one year after earning her degree, Dr. Peabody experienced the sudden loss of her husband. Despite this difficult time, she stayed committed to her patients and children, working to build her practice and serve her community. When the local economy shifted, and families began moving away, she returned to the Portland area to be closer to her children and continue her work.

Her connection to the college remained strong. Like many alumni, she stayed closely tied to her classmates and the institution that helped shape her path. In the mid-1990s, Dr. Peabody joined the NUNM faculty, stepping into a role that allowed her to give back in a meaningful way. She supervised clinical shifts, taught the Clinical Case Presentation course, and mentored students as they developed their own approaches to care.

Dr. Peabody believed deeply in the mission of naturopathic medicine and in the university’s role in advancing it. She was especially dedicated to the community clinics, where she guided students in caring for patients who often had limited resources. She emphasized meeting people where they are and focusing on simple, accessible ways to support health. For her, this work represented the heart of naturopathic medicine.

Throughout her career, Dr. Peabody practiced in Banks, Beaverton, and Portland. She helped establish clinics, supported the growth of community-based care, and contributed to the education of future naturopathic physicians. Her impact can be seen not only in the patients she treated but in the many students who carry her lessons forward in their own practices.

Dr. Peabody is survived by her partner of 29 years, Stuart Allen; her brother, Harold Priday; her children, Victoria (David) Boyle and Sean (Melissa) Peabody; her grandchildren; and many beloved extended family members, patients, and students whose lives she touched.

She will be remembered for her strength, her warmth, and her unwavering commitment to caring for others. She brought honesty and heart to her work and to her relationships. Her legacy lives on in the communities she served, the students she taught, and the enduring values of naturopathic medicine she carried forward every day.