Elizabeth Judith Town

"Judie" passed away peacefully on August 30, 2017, after a long battle with Alzheimer's/Vascular Dementia. She was born in Glens Falls, NY on October 25, 1937 to Larned and Josephine Runnels. After various stays in Manchester, NH, Bay City, MI, and Elwood, IN, she ended up in Jackson, MI for High School. While a Junior, she met her eventual husband, Ronald Town, on a blind date in 1953. They got married on June 9, 1956, and started raising a family of six in 1959. During high school, Judie developed a keen interest in theater, working backstage on the high school shows. This interest prevailed throughout her life as she was involved in 50+ stage productions for several local theater groups. While she never performed on the stage, Judie became an award winning director in Lansing, MI. She always had a smile for everyone and often shared a quote from her dad who would always say "I never met a stranger". Her presence always added a positive vibe to the situation, never complaining openly, with the ability to be positive in difficult situations. She was a stay-at-home mom during the children's formative years. She was a master at keeping track of complex family schedules on her yearly wall calendars, including all the kid's school/extracurricular activities. These calendars became a type of journal of Judie’s life. Her working career involved office work with Home of Lansing, Barker Fowler Electric, and the State of Michigan Treasury Department. Fiercly brave and independent, she was not afraid to travel across the country with multiple kids, a dog, and cat in a tiny Chevette scooter. Always very proud of her children with extreme devotion to her husband, she was always modest and humble when talking about her own accomplishments. She is in a better place after her long battle.

Predeceased by her parents, parents-in-law, brother-in-law, sisters-in-law, brother, and infant daughter. Surviving are her husband of 61 years, Ronald Town; one sister, Priscilla Jean Peterson (John); children, Kathy Sue Strenczewilk (Marty), Karen Louise Manning (Ken), Jeffrey Ernest Town (Debbie), Pamela Jean Town (Darlene), Curtis Lynwood Town, Bradley Everett Town (Bill), Arlene Schouenborg, and the elusive "Not Me". Judie leaves behind 14 grandchildren, Heather, Todd, Bryan, David, William, Elizabeth, Matt, Becky, Jim, Jamie, Jeffrey, Jakob, Jackie, and Joy; 12 great grandchildren, Lia, Kida, Wynter, Blake, Vinny, Ian, Emma, Anna, Hailey, Colton, Josiah, and Nazaren, and many nieces, nephews, and cousins.

Judie's passion for life and love of family will continue on through the lives of all those she leaves behind.

Memorial Service will be held 11:00 a.m. Tuesday, September 5, 2017 at the Gorsline Runciman Funeral Home, 621 S. Jefferson St., Mason, MI. The family will receive friends one hour prior to the service at the funeral home. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Alzheimer’s Association or Starlight Dinner Theatre, 225 Leland Place, Lansing, MI 48917.