Judith Marilyn Loveless

Judith Marilyn Miller Loveless, a long-time resident of Traverse City, passed away on Saturday morning, April 15, following a short illness.

The family will receive visitors on Wednesday, April 19, from 9:00 am until 11:00 am at the Central United Methodist Church, 222 Cass Street, in Traverse City. A funeral service will follow the viewing, beginning at 11:00 am, at the church. Interment will take place at a later date.

Judy was born in Champaign, Illinois, on April 19, 1927, the first child of Estella F. and August E. Miller. Judy and her two siblings spent their childhood in Dayton, Ohio. The family moved to Petoskey, Michigan in 1940, and Judy graduated from Petoskey High School in 1945. She attended The College of Wooster, in Wooster Ohio, where she studied music education. She married her husband of 53 years, Wendell Gage Loveless, on August 24, 1947. In 1950, they moved to Traverse City, where Gage was an engineer at Cone Drive Gears until his retirement.

Judy was committed to music, and was one of the founding members of the Traverse City Symphony Orchestra, now TSO, playing in its charter concert in 1952. In its early years, Judy served as the librarian for the symphony. She was a member of the second violin section for 56 years, playing under many different conductors. She was also dedicated to WIAA, the Interlochen Public Radio station, and served on their advisory board for several years. She was a member of the Traverse City Musicale, serving two terms as its president, and worked actively with the Crooked Tree Girl Scout Council, as well as leading Girl Scout troops for many years. She was also active in the Women's Circle at the Central United Methodist Church.

Her avocations, in addition to music, were gardening and sewing, and she transmitted a love of all those activities to her children.

Judy was preceded in death by her husband, Gage, who passed away on December 24, 2000. Her sister, Charlotte Miller Storey, and her brother, Robert A. Miller, also preceded her in death.

She is survived by her daughter Marilyn D. Loveless, of Wooster, Ohio; son John G. Loveless (and wife Kathy) of Hillsdale, Michigan; daughter Janet K. (Loveless) Lewis (and husband William) from Grand Rapids, Michigan; and son Steven W. Loveless (and wife Ann), of Frankfort, Michigan; grandchildren Danu G. (and Ralph) Geraci of Traverse City; Anna C. Loveless, of Greenville, SC; Aaron G. Lewis, from Seattle, WA, Michael J. Lewis, from New York, NY, Kate Gilbert (and Caleb) of Frankfort, Amy Robison (and Bryce) of Frankfort, and Justin Heniser of Frankfort. In addition, she will be missed by her great-grandchildren, Sela, Nico, and Vincenzo Geraci, Caroline Gilbert and Anna Robison.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations in Judy's name to the Traverse Symphony Orchestra, 300 East Front Street, Suite 230, Traverse City, Michigan 49684.