Judith (Judy) Morey passed away on March 5, 2026, in Ypsilanti, Michigan, exactly two weeks shy of her 85th birthday.  A  4th-generation Ypsilantian, she was born on March 19, 1941 in Ypsilanti, the daughter of William Henry Morey, Jr. and Gladys Marie (Pelton) Morey.

Judy attended Roosevelt Elementary School and Roosevelt High School, Class of 1959.  Many of her classmates had attended school with her since kindergarten, and she remained close friends with them her entire life.

She graduated from Eastern Michigan University with a teaching degree.  Judy taught elementary school her entire career; first in the Wayne Westland Schools from 1963 to 1970 and then in the Ann Arbor Public Schools from 1970 until her retirement in 2001.  During those decades she dedicated her career to her students, a great many of whom she continued to keep in touch with throughout her life. She had attended a retirement party for one of them in 2024; she recently also received an Appreciation Award from the Northside community for her teaching contributions.

Judy loved to learn new things and was a local history buff.  Always the teacher, she shared many posts on social media regarding Ypsilanti, Thompsonville, MI (where her mother's Pelton family was from), the UP, the Great Lakes, and all things Michigan.  Perhaps her interest in such things came from the fact that her Grandfather, William Henry Morey, Sr., worked on the construction of the historic Ypsilanti Water Tower!

Sailing was a passion of Judy's as a younger person; Gardening found it's way into her life in later years and her gardens bloomed gloriously in spring and summer.

Also in later years, Judy became passionate about genealogy and tracing her family roots back many generations.  In her thirties, she had been told by a family member that a maiden aunt of hers had given birth to a child who was given up for adoption in the 1920's.  The topic had never been further discussed.  In late 2022 Judy received a communication from a gentleman who was also a genealogy buff and had learned that his mother had a genealogical connection to Judy.  It turns out, she was the adopted "child," and was still living, and lived only three hours away.  Everyone wanted to meet, and the first cousins, Judy at the age of 81 and Sally at the age of 96, met for the very first time.  The family connection was undeniable and the two connected with each other as if they had known each other all their lives.  They continued to meet every 3-4 months until Sally passed away in the summer of 2025.

Judy's most precious treasures were her dachshunds, Maggie and Sophie, (her "girls") who recently predeceased Judy.

Judy is predeceased by her parents and her brother William Roderick Morey.

She is survived by many of the children of her numerous first cousins, with whom she kept in touch and introduced them to each other (they being second cousins to each other), leaving a wonderful legacy of connected family ties which they would otherwise not have known and for which they are beyond grateful and blessed.

A service to Celebrate Judy's Life will be held at 3:00 p.m. Saturday, April 25, 2026 at Stark Funeral Professionals in Ypsilanti where people will be invited to share their favorite memories and stories.  Visitation will take place from 1-3 p.m. prior to the Celebration.  Thereafter internment of her Ashes will take place at Highland Cemetery in Ypsilanti.

"Every day is school day." ~ Judy

In lieu of flowers, donations in memory of Judith Morey may be made to The Ypsilanti Historical Society Museum and Archives , Humane Society of Huron Valley , or a charity of your choosing.