As part of celebrating WWMT’s 75th birthday, we’re catching up with some of the people who have been part of television newscasts over the years.
Since stepping away from the anchor desk 14 years ago, Judy Markee, a familiar face on WWMT from 1989 to 2011, has embraced a fulfilling life. Markee spent the first two years at WWMT anchoring the weekday morning news, then moved to the evening anchor desk for the next 20 years.
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Where are they now?
Former WWMT sports director, John Koch
During that time, she helped cover significant events such as 9/11, the closing of General Motors manufacturing plants in Kalamazoo and Grand Rapids, and the transfer of ownership of locally-owned drug maker Upjohn to, eventually, global drug making giant Pfizer.
Now, Markee has time to enjoy some of her favorite passions.
“Life is good,” Markee said. “I got to do a lot of my gardening now that I didn’t really have time for. So, I get out and I plant a lot of flats and flowers that I love.”
Gardening is just one of her passions. Since leaving WWMT, Markee has traveled extensively with her husband, Ed, exploring four continents and planning more adventures.
“I feel fortunate and blessed because it’s such an education,” she said. “It’s something that I never had. I never went on trips. When I was a kid, we went camping. So, I feel really, really happy and blessed and fortunate to be doing what I’m doing now.”
Despite being away from television for over a decade, Markee remains a recognizable figure to viewers worldwide.
“I was in Paris, and a West Michigan person said, ‘What are you doing here?’ And I was in Hawaii and another person said, ‘Judy Markee? What are you doing here?’ There are 1.8 million viewers in West Michigan, and after spending 22 years on television, somebody might know who you are,” she said.
Though her travels take her far, Markee cherishes her memories of West Michigan.
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Where are they now?
Catching up with former WWMT anchor, Barry Shanley
“I miss viewers and people who were really kind and business owners that I got to know,” she said. “And I miss the parades and the festivals, and I miss the lakeshore. And I told you this before, I just think the lakeshore of West Michigan is one of the greatest places in the world.”
Though Markee says she misses West Michigan, one thing she doesn’t miss about the area is snow and cold. Growing up in Wisconsin, she says she’s had enough of that and is enjoying living in warm, sunny Florida.
