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Obituary
Belinda Ann Livingston, 76, of Brownstown Charter Township, Michigan, passed away on June 10, 2024, surrounded by her loved ones, after a full day of being told the story of her life by her family and closest friends. She was a remarkable woman who spent 2 years living fully while facing treatment for metastatic lung cancer. Throughout her life, she lived by the motto, “I will just be my smiling self.”
She absolutely LOVED experiencing life. Her bright-eyed smile and upbeat, outgoing personality attracted many new and lifelong friends, and the enduring love of her family. Beyond being a light in our lives, she was also opinionated, funny, well-researched, and a captivating storyteller. A lifelong reader. An epic vacation and birthday party planner. A beautiful home decorator. A garden tender. A party organizer. A wonderful cook. An exquisite Christmas tree decorator. A crafter. A fierce Scrabble player. A loving and beloved wife and partner, a whole-hearted mother, and the most fun Nana.
Belinda was born on June 3, 1948, the youngest child of Annette Veller Booth and Miles Russel Booth, in Toledo, Ohio. She was a lifelong lover of school and learning. Her Kindergarten report card read, “Entered the school from the bus with a smile and has been smiling ever since. She is like a fairy in her grace and beauty and happiness. To Belinda, happiness is a synonym for school.” After graduating from DeVilbiss High School in Toledo, Ohio, she went on to study elementary education, earning a Bachelor’s degree from the University of Toledo, a Master’s degree from Eastern Michigan University, and a certification in elementary school administration from Michigan State University.
She worked as a highly sought after and deeply loved Kindergarten teacher in the Gibraltar School District, dubbed by her students and colleagues “The Best Kindergarten Teacher Ever.” In fact, her family expected that on any ordinary day, she would encounter one of her former students while walking through the grocery or garden store. Children loved how her curiosity for learning piqued their own passion for learning, and how her imagination sparked their love for books and playing games. By simply being her brilliant self, she made an impact on her students, who always fondly remembered her. Near the end of her career, Belinda became the Principal of Parson’s Elementary until her retirement, though her heart remained in the classroom.
Although she is missed by many, no one misses her more than her husband of 45 years. Belinda met her husband, Gerald “Jerry” Livingston, in 1977 at a yoga class. After class, she asked him to come help fix a light fixture at her place. This began a lifelong partnership and a trend of planning elaborate home improvement projects that Belinda directed and Jerry was happy to complete with skill and immaculate attention to detail. Jerry calls meeting Belinda “the best thing that ever happened to me, at exactly the right time.” They married in 1979 and their partnership is an example of true love to anyone who had the luck to witness it, especially their children, Kathleen “Violet” Ann Livingston and Jeremy James Livingston and Jerry’s children who became her own, Jason Livingston and Megan Marie Livingston. The hallmarks of their relationship were clear communication, deep understanding of each other, mutual respect, dedication to their family, and unwavering commitment to each other.
Belinda was predeceased by her beloved mother Annette Veller Booth, who she deeply missed, her father Miles Russel Booth, her brother Miles G. Booth, and her Aunt “Janie” Marie Jane Shea and Uncle Fred Shea. She is survived by her beautiful and well-loved family: her husband Jerry Livingston, their distinguished dog Sherlock, her daughter Violet Livingston and partner Zane, her son Jeremy Livingston, wife Marie Livingston, and grandchildren Stella Jane and Henry Miles Livingston, who were so dear to her heart, Jerry’s two older children Megan Livingston, partner Stacey Fryrear, and Jason Livingston, and grandchild Jayden Livingston. She is also survived by a cousin, Susan Rill, a nephew, Tyler Livingston, and many dear friends.
Belinda’s wishes were to be remembered as her bright, cheerful self, a lifelong teacher, a true and thoughtful friend, a loving and perfect wife and partner, the most present and involved Mom, and the most whimsical, creative Nana. She will be laid to rest at Michigan Memorial Park Cemetery in a private interment with immediate family. You can visit her on the sunny side of the Rose Garden Fountain and bring sunflowers. Her family will hold a Celebration of Life on September 14, 2024 at Bridgewater, and invites her new and lifelong friends, neighbors, former teaching colleagues, and students to come celebrate Belinda’s life by wearing colorful outfits, eating her favorite hors d'oeuvres, and telling “Belinda Stories” of her lasting impact on our lives. Invitations to come!
In lieu of flowers, you can donate in her name to the Michigan Education Association Scholarship Fund or another humanistic cause in the spirit of educational access.
