Mary Jane Johnson

Resided in Rapid River, MI
Died January 25, 2010

Mary Jane (Colby) Johnson of Rapid River died on Monday evening, January 25, 2010 at her daughter’s home, near the village of Leonard, MI. Her husband, Eugene Gideon Johnson, preceded her in death in December 2001. Mary and Eugene were united in marriage September 22, 1956 in Mason, Mi.
Mary was born on January 2, 1932 in Mason, MI, and she was the daughter of Herbert and Marguerite (Strayer) Colby. She graduated from Mason High School class of ’51 and she was a life member of the Mason chapter of the Masonic Order of the Eastern Star. Mary was a dedicated friend to her Mason High School classmates during the past five decades and she will be remembered by them for her generosity in sharing the Johnson family’s historic Rapid River homestead along the Whitefish River for past class reunion gatherings.

Besides being a loving mother to and raising five children in the Pontiac area, Mary worked for the Pontiac School District as a teacher’s aid before retiring to her husband’s ancestral Rapid River home in 1984.

Mary was a faithful and long-time member of the Lutheran Church of the Ascension in Waterford and Calvary Lutheran Church in Rapid River. Her hobbies included updating and caring for the family home, and keeping up with all the news surrounding the lives of her children and their families. She too was an avid reader who enjoyed gardening.

Survivors of Mary Johnson include two sons; Guy (Julie) of Bloomfield Township and Darin of St. Clair Shores; three daughters; Ellen (Gerald) Revis of Okemos, Nancy (Mark) Erickson of Redford and Amy (Alan) Hodges of Leonard; 11 grandchildren; Zachary and Hannah Johnson; Nicole Revis (Kris) Dewitt, Angela and Brian Revis; Matthew, Janine and Diedre Erickson; Spencer, Yvonne and Benjamin Hodges; and one great grandchild, Karter DeWitt. Mary also leaves behind a brother, David Colby of Holt, and two sisters, Virginia (George) Olson of Claremore, OK, and Joyce Fox of Owosso.

Besides her husband, Mary was preceded in death by her parents, her brothers Harry (her twin) and Ken, and a sister, Ilah Jeffrey.

The family of Mary Johnson will receive friends wishing to celebrate her life on Saturday January 30, 2010 from 12:30 to 3:30 PM at the Skradski Funeral Home in Gladstone. Funeral Services are scheduled to follow at 4:30 PM at the Calvary Lutheran Church in Rapid River, with Pastor Stephen Gauger officiating. A luncheon will follow services in the church’s fellowship Hall. A separate memorial service in the Lansing area will be scheduled for in the spring for family and friends wishing to attend.

For those wishing to honor Mary’s memory in lieu of flowers, the family would appreciate donations be made to the Mary Jane Johnson Memorial Fund at the Calvary Lutheran Church in Rapid River.

0 Tributes for “Mary Jane Johnson

    Mary is going to be sadly missed as a family member since Gene’s death she has been the family link. We are going to miss her stories and her smile and her place at our table for dinner’s. God Bless you all.
    Dawn & David Holmgren
    Rapid River, MI

    We will always remember the warmth and kindness Mary showed to our family. Whenever we were in Rapid when Mary was there, she was eager to see us and we had great visits with her. Besides the love she & Eugene showed us, we also knew they prayed for our family and our ministry often, and that was also precious to us. Our kids also have great memories of us staying in the trailer by the river, as well as swimming and fishing there. But it was the stories Mary & Eugene would share that they loved the most. We also recall how proud Mary was of her children and grandkids. She always made you feel special and that it really matter that you were there. She will be blessed, but we KNOW we will see her again. Praise God for that.

    Mark, Anne, Adam, Allyson,Arielle & Peter Willis
    Kirksville, MO

    Darin and family,
    Sorry to hear of the loss of your mother. Thoughts and prayers are with you during this time.

    Greta Brock
    Boyne City, MI

    So sorry for your loss she was a great neighbor and a nice lady she always waved when she went by will deeply miss her.

    Allyson
    Rapid River, MI

    Mary is going to be sadly missed as a family member since Gene’s death she has been the family link. We are going to miss her stories and her smile and her place at our table for dinner’s. God Bless you all.
    Dawn & David Holmgren
    Rapid River, MI

    We will always remember the warmth and kindness Mary showed to our family. Whenever we were in Rapid when Mary was there, she was eager to see us and we had great visits with her. Besides the love she & Eugene showed us, we also knew they prayed for our family and our ministry often, and that was also precious to us. Our kids also have great memories of us staying in the trailer by the river, as well as swimming and fishing there. But it was the stories Mary & Eugene would share that they loved the most. We also recall how proud Mary was of her children and grandkids. She always made you feel special and that it really matter that you were there. She will be blessed, but we KNOW we will see her again. Praise God for that.

    Mark, Anne, Adam, Allyson,Arielle & Peter Willis
    Kirksville, MO

    Darin and family,
    Sorry to hear of the loss of your mother. Thoughts and prayers are with you during this time.

    Greta Brock
    Boyne City, MI

    So sorry for your loss she was a great neighbor and a nice lady she always waved when she went by will deeply miss her.

    Allyson
    Rapid River, MI

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