Judith Lynne (Hanson) Parsons was born at Mercy Hospital in Muskegon, Michigan, on September 17, 1946, to Leroy John "Jack" and Evelyn (Cewe) Hanson.  As a youth, Judy's father relocated to Michigan from Cuba Landing, Tennessee, and Judy's mother was raised on a farm near Moline, Illinois. Judy's parents met before the beginning of World War II and later married.  Nine months after Jack came home from the war Judy was born. Jack was a "Jack of all trades" and served as the caretaker of the Sylvan Beach community for about 20 years. Her mother Evelyn was a schoolteacher who left that profession in lieu of her new vocation of being a mother.

Growing up on Sylvan Beach, Judy enjoyed the beauties of White Lake and the natural habitat that surrounds it. She loved the water, enjoyed being a lifeguard, and fishing with her father. From the early age of five Judy took dancing lessons for ballet and tap, courtesy of an Aunt. Dancing became a natural expression of her vibrant personality and she continued to perform well into her 40's. She loved dancing, but much to her chagrin she was never able to impart her dancing skills to her husband, who has two left feet. As the oldest of four sisters, Judy helped her mother around the house and bossing her younger sisters around. Judy was not particularly mechanically inclined but loved helping her mother in the kitchen. Consequently, she wasn't sure how to use a screwdriver, but became a magnificent cook and was known to prepare some exquisite dishes.  A fiercely proud Viking, she graduated from Whitehall High School in 1964.  She then sought to pursue the same career as her mother… teaching.  In preparation, she attended and graduated from Western Michigan University.  Subsequently, she pursued a Master's Degree at Middlebury College in Vermont. That course of study took her to Spain where she studied her major, Spanish.  After returning from Spain she sought employment at Whitehall Elementary school for one year and then off to Muskegon Heights High School where she continued for 27 more years.  There she taught Spanish, English, and even French, a language that she never knew, but learned along the way as she taught her students. She was a gifted writer and developed a college writing curriculum to better prepare her students for college.  She was a highly respected teacher and mentored many children well into adulthood and taught through the WINGS program in Muskegon County. Additionally, she taught a jail ministry preparing inmates for the GED.

In 1978, at the encouragement of her father and brothers-in-law, she applied for and received a direct commission as a Second Lieutenant in the Michigan Army National Guard.  There she served honorably for 20 years.  While advancing to the rank of Major she completed Officer Training in Transportation, Quartermaster, Engineers, and the Adjutant General Corp.  During this time she met her future husband, Bob Parsons, and was married in 1990.  As she was winding down her teaching career in Michigan her husband accepted a position in Kentucky and Judy joined him. There they built a new life together for nearly 30 years before returning to Whitehall in 2020.  While in Kentucky Judy devoted herself to her husband, preparing exquisite meals and supporting and partnering with him in his business pursuits.  Of course, as you might imagine, that was not enough for Judy, who had been an independent woman since her late teens and needed more than just a husband to occupy her time.  It wasn't long before their Parish Priest asked her to teach Spanish to some of the Parish school children. Her answer to that call was to develop an entire curriculum for all eight grades of the Catholic school.  She did this without compensation, but purely out of her giving heart and thoughtful commitment to all the students in the school.  She taught that curriculum there for over 10 years, until at the request of a friend she left that school and continued the same curriculum at another school for several years. Truly, she was a gifted and loving teacher!

Judy was also a devoted Catholic Christian woman who loved and lived her faith.  With a strong desire to evangelize she was an active member and officer in the Serra Club of Northern Kentucky for Vocations, and the Muskegon Serra Club for over 20 years. In that capacity her work was devoted to the growth of vocations in the church while at the same time growing her own personal vocation and faith experiences.  As a way of giving back and developing a deeper prayer life she became a Lay Associate of the Sisters of Notre Dame Province where she was an active Associate for almost 20 years.  One of her many ministries was to minister to and provide communion services to residents of the Saint Charles Care Facility in Covington, Kentucky.

In addition to those ministries she assisted Father Jack McGuire with his foundation of Mission Share which was formed to help the people of Cali, Colombia where Father Jack had been a missionary priest.  While accompanying Father Jack to Colombia she met a young woman who she and Bob later sponsored to America.

With other partners, Judy and her husband Bob founded a Catholic book and gift store in Burlington, Kentucky to evangelize their faith.  During this time, she completed the Catholic Cursillo Program and served on several teams, bringing other women closer to Christ.

For the seven years preceding her passing, she and her husband sponsored a young man, Katambula Vincent, in Uganda, through secondary education and Medical Officer schooling in Uganda. It was one of her deepest hopes that Katambula would be able to join his Michigan family to further his education in Medicine, a dream that has yet to be fulfilled.

She loved to travel and built relationships literally all over the world with people they met.  She was intensely gregarious and would often bring newfound friends back to the hotel rooms they were staying.  She made friends wherever she went!

A prolific card writer and communicator with the written word, she wrote literally thousands of cards and letters to friends, families, and anyone in need of prayer or encouragement. She was truly a selfless and giving person!  Her strong convictions and devotion to her faith were profound.  Always a consummate teacher at heart, her life was filled with countless examples of helping others.  Her sharp wit, sense of humor, generosity, thoughtfulness, joyfulness, laughter, selflessness, integrity, honesty, and overall sweetness will be just a few of the things that are missed the most by her family and friends.

In her later years she was struck with Alzheimer's disease, which stole her amazing brain, and personality, and ultimately her life.  Nonetheless, she always retained a deep love of family and friends, and knew who they were, and prayed for anyone who needed prayer.  Judy truly was a light for Christ on earth!

A special thanks, appreciation, and deepest gratitude is extended to the caregivers who ministered to Judy during her final year. Those include Pam Miller, Sandy Barnhart, Jamie Chester, Jennifer Sellon, and Patty Weathers. Each of them were truly angels of mercy sent by God to help his lovely daughter!

Judy is survived by her husband, Bob, her precious kitty, Li'l Jack, sisters and their husbands, Mary (Ken) Ottman, Beth Dean, and Anne (Al) Johnson, nieces & nephews Emily (Chris) Stark and children, Amy (Jared) McDuffee, Kenneth (Ali) Ottman and daughter, Michael & Gina Johnson and children, Kristen (Blake) Crenshaw and children, and God-Daughter Kari Norton, also spiritually adopted son, Katambula Vincent, as well as numerous extended family members and countless numbers of friends, students, and others whose lives she impacted.

She was preceded in death by her parents, and also her brother-in-law, Steve Dean.

Judy's Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11:00 AM, Wednesday, May 29, 2024, at St James Catholic Church, 5149 Dowling Street, Montague, MI 49437, with Reverend Father Peter Omogo presiding. Visitation and Rosary will be held at the church one hour prior to the service, and following the service there will be a reception in the Parish Hall.

In lieu of flowers Judy's wishes for an expression of remembrance would be a contribution to Samuel Omogo foundation for the creation of water wells and education in Nigeria or to the Saint Julie's Catholic school in Uganda, operated by the Sisters of Notre Dame in Park Hills, Kentucky.

Beacon Cremation and Funeral Service, White Lake Chapel, is in charge of arrangements.

www.beaconfh.com