Judith Lee Brown

Judith Lee Brown, age 80 of Madison Heights, died Saturday, September 18, 2021 at Henry Ford Macomb Hospital in Clinton Township, Michigan. She was born March 6, 1941 in Detroit, daughter of the late Norman and the late June (nee: Bruce) Bockelman.

It was a mere two and a half years ago that Judith was compelled to say her good-byes to the man she had taken as her groom, the dashing & debonair, John Bertram Brown. It was a loving relationship that started out in her parents’ living room, where they shared their vows and promised themselves to each other, and would ultimately span over 44 years of caring, nurturing, and growing deeper in love with each passing day. Judy and John were joined in marriage on November 23, 1974,…and are happily together again “in a land where they’ll never grow old.”

Judy was quite the spitfire, and sought to be part of the work environment from an early age. Possessing natural talents that commanded a respect that few women knew back in the day, Judy’s skill set caused her to stand out and be noticed,…which is just what the folks at the Bendix Corporation acknowledged the day they offered Judy a position to come aboard and join their team of movers and shakers. At a time when many office environments were just beginning to dip their toes in the pool of computer technology, Judy’s superiors were highly impressed with her knowledge and comfort level with word processing. So much so that they ultimately assigned Judy as the company trainer for word processing, a position she relished by being an integral part of the company’s forward drive into the future. The job needed a special and unique person, and Judy simply had “all the right stuff!”

Judy worked hard to achieve the heights she knew in her career. Yet for as hard as she worked, Judy also knew how to answer the call of balance in her life by infusing a bit of play and fun into the mix. There were a number of pastimes she enjoyed, but we’re going to take a stab here and presume that one of her absolute favorites was hittin’ the casinos. From the gambling houses here in the Mitten to the casino at the Hard Rock Café in Tampa, Florida, there was always an invigoration that swept over Judy each time she entered the parlors to give Ol’ Lady Luck a run for her money. With so many options and venues to pick from, Judy just always seemed to gravitate towards the slot machines,…her coveted “One-Armed Bandits.” Ahh, but the casinos weren’t her only delve into the pool of gambling,…Judy also liked to bet on the horses and spent countless hours at the racetrack honing her prowess as she watched the equine extravaganza unfold. And if that’s not enough,…hang on to your hats, boys,…were headed for the local Bingo Hall. Whether Judy was getting her arm exercises on the slots, calling the ponies correctly, or keeping a watchful eye on her Bingo card, the one thing that always stood out with Judy was her incredible Spirit of Competitiveness. She was also known to spend a day down at the ol’ fishing hole with her brother and Papa, and loved taming the course while enjoying a great day of golf.

Yet her passions weren’t relegated simply to gaming and sports. Judy also possessed the unique and genuine talents for entertaining, and she did so quite often. Though she would own the entire event, it was the preparation of her infamous appetizers that wowed the guests and created quite the buzz. We’re not talking chips & dip here folks,…although one of Judy’s incredible offerings was definitely her mouthwatering Avocado Dip. Just get yourself a sturdy chip and scoop up some of Judy’s “green goodness,” and you were about to take a trip into Seventh Heaven! One could make a list a mile long of the tasty treats that adorned her table of appetizers over the years, but there was just no getting around the fact that Judy prepared the most outstanding Shrimp Scampi and Pigs-in-a-Blanket. If there were ever any special requests, it was usually one of those two. And if you ever attended one of her bashes and you left hungry,…you simply weren’t tryin’!

Another love was her affinity for living on the water. Sharing the beauty and benefits of the beaches along Upper Straits Lake in West Bloomfield, Judy also found great joy each time she headed for the family’s cottage on Skidway Lake. Nestled just west of Tawas City near the middle of the Mitten, the cottage was the perfect answer for exchanging the concrete jungle for a bit of nirvana,…otherwise known as Pure Michigan! It’s not merely a commercial, it’s reality. Michigander’s know the “jewel” that is our state,…and Judy did as well.

Being quite the talkative kind of person, Judy was never at a loss for words. But if she spoke, you could take it to heart. She was infused with an uncanny sense of wisdom, and was never shy when it came to being blatantly honest. If you didn’t want the truth, then it was pointless to engage her. But if you were seeking to learn and be informed, Judy was always there to offer a “heapin’ helpin’” of that great advice she was known to espouse. Yet in the vein of balance, all that wisdom and knowledge was wonderfully intertwined with a contagious sense of humor and the infamous sayings she loved to quote and share with others. Judy clearly left an impact on the hearts and minds of so many souls that passed through her life on her journey this side of Heaven. May she now enjoy the blessings on the other side as she rests safely in the arms of God.

Judith was the beloved wife of the late John Bertram Brown. Dearest stepmother of Timothy Brown, Kathleen (Shannon) Earles, Paula (David) Cavataio, and Alana (Douglas) Booher. Loving grandmother of 11 and great-grandmother of 8. Cherished sister of Joy (Chip) Egnatios, Rick (Sheryl) Bockelman, the late Jan Spenelli, and sister-in-law of Mike Spenelli.

The inurnment of Judith’s ashes will take place at 11:00 am on Saturday, October 2nd at Oakland Hills Memorial Gardens in Novi, Michigan.

Cremation arrangements have been entrusted to the D.S. Temrowski & Sons Funeral Home in Warren, Michigan.

Please share memories of Judith at her memory book below.