'Grandma Vera' Johnson, 87

On Friday Dec. 31, 2010, Grandma Vera left this world peacefully to the arms of Jesus at the age of 87.

She was born Sept. 19, 1923, in Blunt, S.D., to Harry and Rhoda (Hanks) Raph. At the age of 9 her family moved to Sublimity, Ore., with all their belongings in a Hut mobile, a few years later to Stayton, Ore.

Grandma never complained about hard work. She began working at age 10 in the strawberry fields with her sisters. While raising a family she worked as office manager in billing at the Los Alamos, New Mexico Hospital.

She graduated from Salem, Ore., High School in 1942 and then moved to Portland where she met Lester Bay at the Portland Army Air Base, working together as airplane mechanics. They were engaged a month later. Following the war they moved to Los Alamos, N.M., where she raised her first family, two daughters, Cathy and Jann, in addition to opening their home to friends and family, specifically her sister Thelma's family, Kathy Tatom and Patty Weber.

Following the death of Lester in 1970 she married Ward Johnson and stepped into the lives of his eight children. Four of which were still at home. Five years later she and Ward retired and moved to College Mound, Mo.

Shortly after moving to Missouri, she was blessed with another daughter, Tracy Mae Johnson, adopted in 1978.

Her husband, Ward Johnson, died in 1989. She loved to travel and started coming to Idaho and Oregon in the early '90s. Another cross country move took her to Salem in 1996 and spending winters in Yuma, Ariz.

The last 10 years she has lived in Yuma during the winter and with her daughter Jann Hutchins in the summer in Coeur d'Alene.

She loved to sew, craft, scrapbook, watch Gonzaga basketball; when she was younger fish. This past year card making. Her motto was if I keep my hands and mind busy I won't fret about pain or worries. Her greatest passion was her family.

She is survived by her two sisters, Virginia Hosler of Salem, Velma Sagnotty of Yuma; her children, Jann Hutchins (Wally) of Coeur d'Alene, Tracy Mae Johnson (Tony) of San Marcos, Texas, Arch Johnson of Sherman, Texas, Becky Chene of Pleasant Hill, Calif., Janis Johnson and Rich Johnson (Monica) of Albuquerque, N.M., Rachel Shelby of San Marcos, Leo Johnson of Macon, Mo., and Tracy Lee Johnson (Gary) of Columbia, Mo.

Her grandchildren, Charlie (Bekah) Gay of Coeur d'Alene, Sarah Bowen-West (Gerald) of Hampton, Va., Ginny Arquello-Chene, Dianna Lee Lacour-Clark, Steve Johnson (Jinny) of Albuquerque, Joe (Jean) Chene of Pleasant Hill, Calif., Patrick Johnson of Sherman, Luke, Matthew, Zach Reeves of Columbia, Joshua Long, Jason Gallegos, Keiara Holmes, Aimee Johnson, Jaren Sayles of San Marcos, Matthew, Ben, Sarah Johnson of Macon, Jeremiah, Josiah, Joshua, John, Joanna Hutchins of Coeur d'Alene.

She had 25 great-grandchildren, and many nieces and nephews.

She touched so many lives it is impossible to comprehend. She was known as "Grandma Vera" to everyone, and showered them with homemade gifts. She never met a stranger.

She was preceded in death by her parents; two husbands; daughter Cathy Bay; two sisters, Thelma Carpenter and Bernice Salisbury; son-in-law Mike Bowen; daughter-in-law Mary Johnson and four infant grandchildren, Dennis, Carol Marie, Ariana and Cheri.

We are given gifts and talents from God for this life. Her greatest was unconditional love. She would never hold a grudge and was quick to forgive.

Her purpose was to be a mother and grandmother, sister, friend, aunt, wife. She will be greatly missed.

A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. Monday, Jan. 10, 2011, at Yates Funeral Home, Hayden Chapel.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to your favorite charity in her behalf.

Visit Vera's online memorial and sign her online guest book at www.yatesfuneralhomes.com.