Beverly Ann Urban

Driven, generous, and devoted to the family she loved, Beverly Urban lived her life to the fullest. A dedicated wife and mother, Beverly modeled a strong work ethic and compassion for others. Known for her love of baking, she created a large variety of special cakes for weddings, graduations, and birthdays which added to countless memories with her friends and family. She leaves behind a wonderful collection of memories for her many special friends and loved ones to cherish forever.

Beverly’s story began during a time that was marked by WWII. It was 1942 and families in the United States were experiencing a gas rationing of only three gallons a week and a new breed of movies with war themes was hatching. During the years of Franklin D. Roosevelt, Beverly Ann was born on May 29th, in Kentucky. Her birth brought much joy and promise in an era of great change.

Beverly’s life was woven with years of being selfless from the very start. At an early age, she was responsible for looking after her younger brother and sister while her parents both worked outside their home in the Black Star Coal Mining Camp in Harlin County. In addition to chasing her siblings around and tending to their every need, she also helped care for her disabled aunt Tracy. She grew accustomed to shopping in the commissary at the camp to get groceries as well as spending time picking fresh blackberries with her siblings in the holler. She often told stories of these years and joked that she ate as many as she picked! At a young age, she moved to Chicago and started her family having her first child Kenneth. Later, she again moved to Detroit and gave birth to her daughter, Doris “Sissy”, and son, Jimmy. Delaware was next on her journey where she had her son, John, before moving back to Detroit. By her mid-twenties, Beverly was a single mother of four children and worked hard in succeeding to keep her family together.

In 1974, her life would change course when she met her future husband, Jim. Meeting through mutual friends, they had an immediate connection and shared many common interests. A romantic at heart, Jim proposed to her at her father’s home on Christmas in front of the entire family! They joined in marriage and by 1975 their daughter, Michelle arrived completing the family! Later in 1979, they moved into the forever family home in Livonia, Michigan. She and Jim shared a beautiful marriage together. They instilled in their children the value of strong relationships with family as well as facing each struggle with courage. They shared a philosophy that there will always be bumps in the road, but how you handle those situations is what defines your character. Together they modeled for their children a strong marriage that despite any ups and downs, love would prevail.

Beverly never took a single day for granted. She worked hard to provide for her family over the years. She attended business school and worked as a Tri Penn Oil bookkeeper. She also held a position at Arlington Aluminum and was proud to serve as the committeewoman for her union. Much later, Beverly worked for the Southfield Board of Education. Above all else, she was proud to be a homemaker later in her adult life and worked independently by owning her own cleaning business. She enjoyed gardening, especially growing and canning strawberries. There was never a dull moment when Beverly was around! She was always busy sharing her harvest or baked goods with neighbors and friends as well as keeping up with her own household chores. Beverly loved to cook for her family and share time with them. Her ultimate joy was found in being surrounded by her special friends and family sharing conversation and planning their next adventure!

She and Jim enjoyed their retirement years by traveling together. They loved touring Michigan’s beautiful Upper Peninsula, going to the casino, antiquing, and fishing. A majority of the blessings they shared with their children were the times they spent up north at their cabin in Cedarville near the Les Cheneaux Islands. They purchased a cabin there in 1993 and enjoyed hosting their family and making special memories, playing card games and Uno with her children and grandchildren, that bonded them together over the years. Beverly was grateful for her family and to see her hard work pay off during her retirement years. Described as caring and loving, Beverly will be greatly missed. Her nurturing ways, and her famous “Southern Breakfast” are her greatest legacy. May her loved ones hold on to her special memories and allow them to warm their hearts for many years to come.

Mrs. Urban is survived by her beloved husband of 47 years, James; five children and their families, Kenneth and Jayne Adkins of Fowlerville, Doris “Sissy” and Eric Fitchpatrick of Fowlerville, John and Lori Adkins of Livonia, Jimmy Adkins and Laurie LaMontagne of Milford, and Michelle and Anthony Colangelo of Livonia; many grandchildren, including Jason, Ashley, Amanda and Jared, Gary, Joey, Jordan, Austin, Tabitha, Isaiah, Emberlee, Declan, Jessica, Peter, Bryn, Piper, Sloane, Colton, Nevaeh, Riley, Eric II and Courtney, Adam and Heather, Josh, Allison and Dylan, Kailee, Eric III, Kenzie, Lexi, Jorden, Melissa, Bill and Marcy, Kyle, Hunter, Lily, TJ, and Trevor.

She is also survived by one expected great-grandchild, and one great-great-grandchild, Alana; her two sisters, Shelby Jacobs and Windy Scott, brothers, Henry and Cheri Campbell and Jack Campbell, many nieces and nephews, and numerous friends.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Etta Doris and Jim Murdock, and Henry and Wilma Campbell; and two grandsons, Kenny Allen Adkins, and Mark Wallace.