Julie Michaeline Belcher's Obituary
Julie Michaeline Belcher of Spring Lake Michigan peacefully ended her battle with cancer, surrounded by her family, on November 8th, 2023, at 4:20 PM, her favorite time of day.
Born Julie Michaeline Cook to Margaret and Allen Cook of Elyria, Ohio on October 30th, 1969, the third of what would become Margaret and Allen’s seven children. Julie always said not to hold being born in Ohio against her, she barely remembered it as the family moved to the Detroit suburbs shortly before she turned four.
Julie fully embraced being a child of the 70s and 80s in Detroit, causing mischief with her sisters and merry gang of hellions from Gratiot to Grosebeck. In 1985, Julie would meet the love of her life, Bill. The two would become inseparable for the next 38 years, consistently striving to make each other the best versions of themselves.
On May 30th, 1991, the two were married in a courthouse wedding where the judge told her to love honor and obey. Bill never expected her to follow through on that last one and she rarely did.
In 1994, two years after moving to Grand Haven, Bill and Julie would welcome their only child, Billy Belcher Jr. Being a mom was the most rewarding thing in Julie's life and molding Billy into the perfect mixture of her and Bill was Julie's greatest joy. Julie was always Billy's biggest and loudest supporter, making sure he could hear her at every football game and wrestling match and all of his friends, many of which she considered her “second sons.”
The dozens of concerts and sporting events they went to as a family were some of Julie’s fondest memories, from Pat Benatar to Willie Nelson, Julie knew how to have a good time at a concert.
After spending many years working for Corporate Cleaning in Grand Haven, in 2012 Julie would open and run her own housekeeping business until her illness began. Her clients were like another family to her, and it gave her an immense amount of pride to help turn their houses into clean and dignified homes.
Julie lived her life with a distinct flair and passion that is impossible to forget, even in her final weeks she never lost the personality that shined through and touched so many around her. Julie's earthly body might be gone but she's looking down at us all from her garden in heaven, while she listens to the birds, reads her book and drinks her pot of coffee a day.
She was preceded in death by her sister, Christine Cook and in-laws, William Woodrow and Lillian Belcher.
She is survived by husband, Bill; son, Billy (Jessie Block); parents, Allen and Margaret Cook; siblings, Melissa, Annetta, Richelle, Allen (Leslie), Nicole (Mike) and many nieces and nephews from around the country, including LaVontre` Gray, who held a special place in her heart.
A Memorial Service will be held at 1:00 PM on Saturday November 18th, 2023, at The Lee Chapel of Sytsema Funeral & Cremation Services, 6291 S. Harvey St., Norton Shores, MI 49444. Visitation with the Belcher family will take place one-hour prior to the service at the funeral home. Memorial Contributions in Julie’s honor can be directed to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. Share memories with the family at www.sytsemafh.com.
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