Jean Katherine (Johnson) Radley was peacefully called home on Sunday September 15, 2024 in Northville, MI.  She had spent her last days on earth surrounded by peace and the love of her family.  Jean was a selfless and sincere woman, born on March 2, 1932 in Baraga Michigan.  She loved her childhood farm that she shared with her parents and 2 brothers, Rommey and Ray.   While she was in middle school, her family moved from Baraga to Wayne, MI.  It was at Wayne High where Jean met the love of her life, her lifetime partner, Lawrence (Larry) Radley.  He and Jean were married in 1954 and purchased a brand new house on Melton Street in Westland, where they raised 3 boys, Dave, Jim and Steve.  She was active with Larry's business, M & M TV repair, where she helped him with the bookkeeping.  She worked as a paraprofessional in Wayne-Westland schools, where she would help children who struggled with learning.  She worked one on one with children, with materials she developed herself, until they grasped the concepts.  She cared about her students and was a lifelong advocate for education.

She and Larry were devout Christians and very active members of the First Congregational Church in Wayne for over 70 years.  She took on many responsibilities for the church.  She was a deacon, member of women's fellowship, worked with archives and played the bells.  One of her favorite jobs in the church was working in the kitchen for fellowship luncheons.  She continued to volunteer her kitchen expertise into her 90s. She enjoyed attending the theatre productions with her close friends from church.

Jean continuously put others before herself and gave her time to many different organizations throughout her life. In addition to volunteering at church, she was a helper at American Red Cross blood drives.  She would supply you with cookies and juice, and might, in her firm yet caring way, tell you to lay back down if you looked faint.  She also sewed and assembled packages for Days for Girls, which supplies hand sewn feminine products to women in underdeveloped countries so they could continue to attend school.  She was a meticulous quilter and made beautiful blankets for all her children and grandchildren that they will forever cherish. Her love of being around people brought her into many groups including garden club, stitching club (which she lovingly referred to as her 'stitch and bitch' club), Rummikub and card groups and quilting club.

There is no question, Jean's main focus was always her family. She was always present for her boys and grandchildren, from playing games in the yard, to making gravy for Thanksgiving dinners, she put everyone's needs ahead of her own.  After her boys were grown, she was an active sideline supporter of her grandchildren at numerous football, basketball, wrestling and soccer games.  In 2006, she and Larry, became nannies and laundry service to her 4 new grandchildren (triplets and a singleton) when they were born all in the same year.  Her daughters-in-law could not have gotten through those baby years without her strong and consistent physical and emotional support.  When Larry passed away in 2011, Jean continued to live in the house they made into a home on Melton until it became too much for her to care for and she moved to the senior apartments on Elmwood in Westland in 2018.  She continued to volunteer, be active in her church and clubs and create a lasting legacy of love for her family.  She was a beacon of strength and the matriarch of the Radley Family for 92 years.  She will be sorely missed by all who knew her and those lives that she helped to grow and love.

Jean is preceded in death by her parents, Geogeanna and Rungner (John) Johnson, her brothers Rommey (Mary) and Ray (Beverly) and the love her life and husband of 57 years, Lawrence (Larry) Radley in 2011.  She is survived by her sons, Dave (Karen), Jim (Erin) and Steve (Elaine) Radley.  She will be missed by 10 grandchildren, Corey, Dane (Rachel), Olivia, Mike (Laura), Matt (Nicole), Jamie (Chris Vecchioni), Tyler, Emily, Ben and Nate and 12 great-grandchildren.

Services for Jean Radley are as follows:  Visitation on Sunday, September 22 from 3:00 - 8:00 pm at Uht Funeral Home in Wayne MI.  Funeral service on Monday, September 23 at 11:00 am at First Congregational Church in Wayne.  In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to her lifetime church, First Congregational Church in Wayne, MI.