Phyllis was a 1948 graduate of John M. Culver Elementary School and a 1952 graduate of Bosse High School in Evansville, IN. In 1968 she graduated from Murray State University in Murray, Kentucky with a major in History and minors in Economics and Political Science where she was a member of Alpha Chi honorary fraternity. She also held an Associate Degree from Paducah Community College where she was a member of Phi Theta Kappa honorary fraternity.
After graduating from high school, Phyllis taught dancing at Arthur Murray Dance Studios in Paducah, KY where she met her first husband, who was one of her students, and started a family. She went on to work at Public Assistance as a licensed social worker followed by a move to Lexington, KY where she worked at the University of Kentucky and the Commonwealth of Kentucky.
In 1988 she married her Culver and Bosse classmate, Montie Johnson. In retirement, she and Montie loved traveling internationally as well as visiting family and friends in nearly every state in their RV. Phyllis had a lifelong passion for genealogy. She loved family and school reunions, particularly co-hosting the Weatherholt Reunion in Tobinsport and Tell City and joining Montie in planning and attending Culver and Bosse school reunions. She also enjoyed her book clubs, dancing, camping, water skiing, snow skiing and sailing.
Most recently Phyllis attended Vann Avenue Baptist Church. She was a member of Aldersgate United Methodist Church where she served as the Church Historian for 10 years. She was a member of the Evansville chapters of the National Society Daughters of the American Revolution and the National Society of Colonial Dames XVII Century, Thomas Sprigg Sr. She was commissioned as a Kentucky Colonel, the highest title of honor bestowed by the Governor of Kentucky recognizing an individual’s noteworthy accomplishments and outstanding service to our community, state, and nation.
Phyllis is survived by her husband, Montie Johnson; son, Chris (Melody) Nall and daughter, Sydney (Ron) Haffkine; grandchildren, Whitney (Stephen) Keinath and Matthew Nall; great grandchildren, Braden Keinath and Ansley Keinath; stepchildren Brian (Lynn) Johnson and Charmaine Kolander; grandchildren, Ben Johnson, Nick Johnson, Bella Kolander and Logan Kolander; sisters Mildred Brown, Norma (Joe) McKinley and Dotty (Richard) Young; very dear cousins, nieces, nephews, great nieces, great nephews, her lifelong friend Sue Windeknecht and her beloved dog, Gizmo.
Alexander Funeral Home-West Chapel at 2100 West Illinois Street, in Evansville, will host both Visitation from 11:00 a.m. until 1:00 p.m. and the Memorial Service at 1:00 p.m. on Saturday, August 21, 2021 with Rev. Dr. Larry Lewis officiating. Burial will follow in Oak Hill Cemetery and Arboretum. Phyllis’s service will be livestreamed beginning at 12:45 p.m., please use the following link www.facebook.com/FuneralStreamUSA.
Expressions of sympathy may take the form of contributions to Vann Avenue Baptist Church, 2608 Vann Ave., Evansville IN 47714, Aldersgate United Methodist Church, 5130 Lincoln Ave., Evansville, IN 47715 or Vanderburgh Humane Society, 400 Millner Industrial Drive, Evansville, IN 47710.
