Judy Wilson

Judy Wilson valued many things in her life, but none were more important than creating close relationships with the family she treasured so deeply. She was a loving wife, devoted mother and proud grandmother, who laced her days with joy and vibrancy. Judy was a woman of great strength, who persevered through trials that came her way one after another, always remaining true to the joy that was in her heart. She truly knew how to enjoy, cherish and celebrate every moment that life had to offer.

The 1950s marked a quieter, more stable time in American history, especially after the turbulent 40s. It was a good time to grow up in America, and because of the Baby Boom, the neighborhoods and schools were bursting at the seams with children. Judith Wilson was among those children. Born in Miami, Florida on March 3, 1953, she was the oldest of three daughters born to James and Sara (Gilman) Lewis. While her mother raised the girls, her father was a pilot with Eastern Airlines out of Hialeah, Florida.

Judy led a typical childhood of the time and was a “typical” big sister – she was always the boss. As she got older, her bossiness turned into a beautiful “outgoing” personality, which won her many friends in the neighborhood. Judy loved to put on plays with her sisters and her friends and do all the pretend things that little girls do. Judy had fun being a Brownie and a Girl Scout, and she loved the beach--so much that she hitchhiked just about every weekend to South Beach for some fun in the sun.

Judy went to Flamingo Elementary School and graduated from Hialeah High in 1971. She then went on to attend the University of South Florida, where she met the love of her life, Cameron “Cam” Wilson, during her freshman year. Cam was playing his guitar at the quad when he spotted a very pretty girl across the way. He went over to talk to her and with that, their love story had begun. After a two year courtship, Judy and Cam were engaged, though for only 2 weeks before they were happily married on September 9, 1973, at North Hialeah Methodist Church. Cam was from western Michigan, so the newlyweds spent their honeymoon moving to his hometown. It wasn’t without incident though as Cam got pulled over, but the officer was nice enough to let them go with a warning since his bride was sound asleep in the passenger seat.

Once settled in Kalamazoo, Judy transferred to Western Michigan University, where she earned a degree in speech pathology. She worked in this field for a few years until they decided to start their own family. In 1980, the couple welcomed the birth of their first child, Amanda, who was later joined by brothers, Tristan and Tyler. It was easy to see that Judy considered it pure joy to care for her husband and children. She took an active role in every phase of her children’s life and she also created a home that was a place where love was plentiful. From driving the kids to school day after day, to tennis, golf, sailing lessons and nature center camp, her passion was to support her family.

A significant part of Judy’s life was the insurance company that she and Cam ran together for 28 years. Cam started Cameron Wilson Associates in 1983, and Judy became an insurance agent to work in the business. A year later, the family moved to a home on School Section Lake, where they live today. Here, Judy enjoyed having her own vegetable garden, much of which she used to cook delicious meals for her family. She even grew mint, which she put in her fabulous Mojito drinks. With a knack for decorating, Judy always seemed to be painting some part of the house. Over the years, she hosted many wonderful parties in her home, and she didn’t wait for an excuse to have friends and family come over either. It brought her such joy to cook all the food and enjoy time with all those she loved. But that was Judy – she always volunteered her time, her effort and her love to everyone in her life.

Time together as a family was always important to Judy, whether at home with her own family or in Florida with her parents. She went to Florida every year to spend time with her parents in Miami (and enjoy the warm weather). Every Christmas she and Cam took the family to Marco Island, where they shared many great memories visiting family and enjoying good restaurants and sandy beaches. At home, the couple loved to be on the water in their boat, the Terrapin, which they kept at the South Haven Yacht Club.

It was during the whirlwind of the joy of life that Judy found a lump in her breast. It was June 1998 and she was excitedly getting ready to host two very important parties – one for her daughter Amanda who was graduating from high school, and her son, Tristan, who was graduating from 8th grade. Despite the scary discovery, Judy carried on like nothing was wrong and proudly celebrated with her children. She then went to the doctor and confirmed the diagnosis, Stage 4 breast cancer! Judy had surgery but, unfortunately, the cancer continued which led, of course, to chemotherapy.

Judy has been in active treatment since 2001 at the West Michigan Cancer Center and in clinical trials at the Karmanos Cancer Center in Detroit. In typical Judy fashion, she often made her trip to Detroit an over-nighter so she could spend time with her son Tristan, and his wife, Emily. Judy loved to find fun restaurants to go to for dinner there and absolutely could not pass up shopping at Summerset Mall in Troy. If you knew Judy, you also knew she was a first-class shopper! Whether it was for shoes, purses, eye glasses or something in her favorite color, pink, Judy “could out shop anyone.” How Judy found the energy to shop after undergoing chemo treatments was amazing. It had to be the power of her positive attitude.

Judy found strength from being involved in cancer support groups, too. The people she knew in these groups, plus her many friends and acquaintances, including the nurses and doctors and people she met during her treatments were always important to her. In the last year and a half of her life, though, Judy's greatest joy and inspiration was her beautiful grandson, Amanda and Dean's baby, Patrick. It was only a year ago that Judy and Cam had to endure the loss of their precious daughter, Amanda. Baby Patrick was just a few months old at the time but through his growing little body and his great big smile he brought immense joy to Judy and Cam. Judy never let her disease stop her from being a doting “Mima” to Patrick. She was determined to be a positive and loving “mother” figure in his life and share in his milestones.

Judy’s good spirit and smiling face served as testimony to the fact that she enjoyed every moment of her life. It was only natural that her convertible VW Beetle donned a license plate saying “Enjoy.” In fact, after her kids were grown and gone, Judy turned one of the rooms into her “ENJOY” room; everything in the room had the word “enjoy” in or on it. Aside from this little hobby, Judy loved to read and traded books with her friends. With the tons of magazines subscriptions and countless catalogs that came daily, she never ran out of things to read. When not reading, Judy loved to catch what’s new on the Food Network.

Judy was an absolutely outstanding wife, mother, and friend; a selfless lady of magnificent grace and strength. She faced life's most difficult challenges, yet enjoyed so many triumphs. The way Judy lived her life was a lesson to all who knew her. Her life was like a gift that she gave to everyone, a gift that lives on in the hearts of all who were blessed to know her.

Judith A. Wilson, age 58, died on Friday, June 17, 2011, in Kalamazoo, MI at Rose Arbor Hospice. Judy’s family and friends are invited to share in a Life Story Reception on Tuesday, June 21, from 3-5 p.m. at the Life Story Funeral Home, Betzler, 6080 Stadium Drive, Kalamazoo (375-2900).

Judy was preceded in death by her daughter, Amanda Marks; father, James Lewis; and in-laws: James and Barbara Wilson. Surviving is her husband of 38 years, Cameron Wilson; 2 sons: Tristan (Emily) Wilson and Tyler Wilson; son-in-law, Dean Marks, and Amanda and Dean’s son, Patrick Marks - Judy’s precious grandson; mother, Sara Lewis; 2 sisters: Diane (Mark) Beinke and Nancy Lewis; and niece and nephew, Andrew and Stephanie Beinke. Please visit Judy’s personal web page at www.lifestorynet.com, where you may share a memory, upload a photo and sign her online guest book before coming to the funeral home. Memorial donations may be directed to West Michigan Cancer Center.