Beverly Patricia Fortune

Beverly Patricia Fortune, age 83 of Warren, passed away Friday, July 16, 2021 at the Ascension St. John Hospital & Medical Center in Detroit, Michigan. She was born September 28, 1937 in Detroit, Michigan, daughter of the late Albert and the late Helen (nee Masternak) Sargent.

Growing up in Detroit, Beverly’s ELHI path of education would ultimately bear its fruition when she proudly graduated, with distinction, from Pershing High School in Detroit. While not letting any moss grow under her feet, Beverly followed graduation by immediately searching for employment and was elated when her eagerness landed her a position with Michigan Bell as a telephone operator. Beverly was a hard worker and always went the extra mile to please the customer and make a good name for the company. It was right around this time that she found herself courting a young man by the name of Larry Fortune. Of course, courting would lead to a loving relationship which found its culmination in the sharing of their wedding vows on September 28, 1957 at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Grosse Pointe, Michigan. In the eyes of family and friends alike, Beverly and Larry were blessed to become husband & wife and embarked upon a journey that would include four beautiful children and a host of treasured grandchildren, many which were donned both great and great-great accordingly. Beverly and Larry enjoyed growing deeper in love with each passing day of their 59 years together, until Larry’s death in 2017.

The newlyweds chose the city of Roseville to make their home, initially, but had eyes on the up & coming community of Warren where they ultimately moved, planted their stakes, and remained for over 50 years raising their children and enjoying the blessings of family.

While stepping back from work to attend to her family, Beverly was unexpectedly called back to the workforce following an injury that Larry incurred on the job. She found an opportunity in the manufacturing realm and was hired by Robin’s Products where she spent a short time. From there, Bev found another manufacturing job with the folks at Sine Products where she worked on the assembly line until the time came for her to step into a new chapter in life as a retiree.

Whether it was time away from work or simply sharing the joys of retired life with Larry, one of Beverly’s favorite pastimes was found in the pleasures of travel and building upon their impressive portfolio of places visited and destinations enjoyed. From countless sights within our 48 contiguous states, as well as the tropical paradise of Hawaii, to their travels outside of our border to places like Rosita Beach in Mexico,  Bev and Larry’s ventures helped them create some magnificent and life-long memories of the sights, sounds, and the wonderful friends they met along the way. It’s hard to beat the warmth and tranquility of lounging on a Mexican beach with a fru-fru drink in hand.

Yet some of the traveling they cherished most was found right here in their own backyard,…(well, sort of),…each time they headed northeast for the lakefront town of Algonac. Nestled just outside of Macomb and into the southern end of St. Clair County, Algonac made for the ideal drive up the coast of Lake St. Clair to the quaint and popular destination that attracted countless visitors,…especially those who garnered immense enjoyment from simply sitting on the boardwalk watching the freighters make their way up & down the channel. Along with the pleasures of driving to Algonac, there was also the profound delight of spending time at the Algonac State Park while camping right off the road and across from the St. Clair River. It was a camper’s dream as most everybody in the park enjoyed a lakefront view,…or darn close to it.

Another source of pleasure for Bev was mustered up with each day’s newspaper delivery. For over 60 years, Bev was a faithful and devout subscriber of the Detroit News & Free Press. She loved her newspaper and read it from cover to cover each day, and always looked forward with eager anticipation to its delivery. So just imagine the day she learned that the delivery process was being shortened to 3 days a week? Bev was devastated, so much so that she decided to bring 60 dedicated years to an end. It was a life-changing moment, for sure. Yet throughout the 60 years she immersed herself in the paper, perhaps the most anticipated feature were the daily crossword puzzles she was afforded to solve. Known to be a builder of the mind, Bev loved solving her puzzles and always looked forward to the victory that ensued each time she completed her prized mind-benders. As for a bit of fun & challenge with friends, there was always great entertainment and competition that followed an afternoon or evening down at the local Bingo Hall. Bev, the “Bingo Babe” could yell out with the best of them,…and there’s little that could match the pleasure and victory each time she was afforded the opportunity to scream out,…”BINGO!”

When it came to a bit of mindless entertainment, Bev had some TV shows she looked forward to watching, namely the likes of TLC, American Picker’s, and My 600 lbs Life. Whether she was seeking to learn something from the many DIY hosts on TLC,…being astonished at the incredible finds and treasures by the Picker Dudes,…or the amazement derived from watching those whose weight challenges have  gone above and beyond normalcy,…Bev was never at a loss for the TV fare she so enjoyed.

Bev also loved going out to eat, and almost always her choice was Theo’s Restaurant in Warren, formerly “Bi-Centennial” to those Warrenites whose memories serve them well. Meals at home certainly have their place in life,…but nothing can beat the pleasure of ordering your food, having it served to you, then culminating in your table being cleared with no dishes to do. They call that “a little slice of Heaven,”…and Beverly ate it up!

Yet of all that quickened joy to Bev’s life, nothing came close to the joys of family and spending time in their company. Saturday’s were always a bit more special as that was the time for Grandma to shine, and Bev was like a ray of sunshine that permeated her grandkids’ heart and lives in a very endearing way. She loved taking them to the flea market, especially when their ventures included a trip to Detroit’s Eastern Market. Known as the mecca of markets, Bev, and her entourage, managed to find some great deals,…while also creating and building upon the wonderful memories made with Grandma.

A loving wife, mother,…Grand, Great-Grand, and Great-Great Grandmother, Bev’s life was filled with a vast array of love and care from a family she held ever-close to her heart. Bev was truly a Matriarch who set the pace and kept things running like a fine Swiss timepiece. She rolled with the punches and laughed as often as possible. Embodied with a sense of humor that touched so many, Bev was especially happy when she was laughing at her own jokes. And her laugh was infectious. The minute she got going, it wasn’t long before the rest of the room was following suit. She knew that the best sound in life is laughter, and she sought it as often as she was able. Though Bev’s family were her greatest benefactors, there were countless others whose lives she touched and impacted with her caring spirit and loving-kindnesses as she journeyed this side of Heaven. May she now enjoy the blessings on the other side as she rests safely in the arms of God. Without question,…she is sure to be missed beyond expression and loved beyond measure.           

Beverly was the beloved wife of the late Larry. Dear mother of Larry (Nancy) Fortune, Donna (Joe Miko) Boyd, Richard (Scott Atherton) Fortune, and Chris (Jennifer) Fortune. Loving grandmother of 13, great-grandmother of 9, and great-great grandmother of 2. Sister of Jerry (Debbie) Sargent, Albert (Nancy) Sargent, and the late Joan Sargent.

Visitation for Beverly will be held on Thursday, July 22nd from 3-9 pm at the D.S. Temrowski & Sons Funeral Home, 30009 Hoover Road at Common (12 ½ Mile Road) in Warren, Michigan. Her Funeral Service will be held on Friday, 11:00 am at the funeral home.

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