Elizabeth "Betty" Brief

August 27, 1931 - March 20, 2022

Elizabeth “Betty” Jane Gallagher-Brief was born and raised in Traverse City and passed away March 20, 2022. She was 90 years young, born on August 27, 1931, to Cecil and Marjorie Gallagher. Betty was born and raised on the Gallagher Centennial Farm on North Long Lake Road. As the eldest girl of ten children, she made significant contributions to the care and daily work in the household. Betty attended Lone Tree School and walked to school with her siblings in tow, whom she adored. She graduated from St. Francis High School in 1949. She began her career at Michigan Bell as an operator and after 32 years, retired from AT&T as an estimate assigner. On September 13, 1951, Betty was united in marriage to John “Jack” Brief at St. Francis Church. It was a classic “farm girl meets city boy and falls in love” relationship. Jack had to prove himself worthy in her father’s eye, but once he was accepted, he was loved by all. They went on to have many adventures in their 69 years of marriage. Betty and Jack traveled extensively and enjoyed numerous cruises. They were snowbirds in Wauchula, FL for 35 years and loved their park where they made many friends and created fond memories of their time there. They especially enjoyed going to the Detroit Tiger’s spring training games, flea markets, and the circus in Sarasota. Betty was a member of St. Francis Church from birth. She was a member of the Altar Society, a Eucharist and Hospital Minister, and a funeral luncheon committee member. She was active in her faith and provided countless Swiss steak dinners as fundraising opportunities, supported innumerable bake sales and Christmas bazaars to benefit St. Francis and GTACS. Betty and Jack had the best and biggest garden of fresh vegetables you could wish for. Betty was famous for her dill pickles, and her flower gardens were exceptional as she lovingly cared for them. They lived their life in the first home they bought, just down the road from the Gallagher Farm. Later in life, her beloved siblings became her neighbors on South Twin Lake. Betty leaves behind her daughter Cynthia (Bill) Tomlinson and son John (Tammi) Brief II; three grandsons, Andrew (Lisa), Jacob (Amanda) and Matthew Tomlinson; and two great-granddaughters, Linnaea and Valla. Surviving her are her siblings, James Gallagher, Margaret Sophiea-Bufka, Gary Gallagher, Colleen Newell, Douglas Gallagher, Dorothy Zimmerman and Linda Stevenson. Betty was preceded in death by her husband Jack Brief on March 12, 2021. She was also preceded in death by her oldest brother John (Jack) Gallagher and her “little sister” Mary Jo Gallagher. The family would like to thank the staff of the Willow Cottage at the Pavilions where Betty recently resided due to dementia. Visitation will take place Friday, April 1 from 4-7 PM. The holy rosary will be prayed at 5:30 PM. Mass of Christian Burial will take place Saturday, April 2 at 11:00 AM at St. Francis Catholic Church. Betty’s final resting place will be Grand Traverse Memorial Gardens. Those wishing to send an expression of sympathy may choose Grand Traverse Area Catholic Schools in Betty’s honor. Betty and her family are being cared for by Reynolds-Jonkhoff Funeral Home, www.reynolds-jonkhoff.com