Mary Elizabeth Johnson

May 12, 1919 – December 13, 2014

Mary passed away peacefully in her sleep on December 13, 2014. Born in Danville Virginia to Walter S. and Mary Jane Eanes, she was the youngest of three children. Her parents worked for the Danville Lumber Company and the Dan River Mills. She attended schools in Danville and upon high school graduation, entered Stratford College in Danville, and then enrolled at Johns Hopkins School of Nursing in Baltimore Maryland in 1939. Unable to complete the nursing program due to various illnesses, she moved to Washington, D.C. where she was employed as a fingerprint technician for the FBI. She worked on many cases involving gangsters of era such as John Dillinger and Baby Face Nelson. While working there in 1943, she met the love of her life, a Navy sailor and a Pearl Harbor survivor, on a blind date. She knew she loved him but would not marry him until he made the Chief rating. She married SCGM James E. Johnson on October 14, 1945 and was married for 52 years until his passing in April 1997. She was the proud parent of two children, James A. Johnson (Judith) and Donn E. Johnson (Patricia). She was the proud grandparent of James Andrew Johnson (Jennifer), Jeffery Porter (Jennifer), Jennifer Green (Kris), Lyndsi Johnson, and Whitney Westing (Andrew). And she was the proud great grandmother of Cole Porter, Trent Johnson, Alex Johnson, and Andrew Johnson.

Mom was a career Navy wife for 23 years and lived in California (various times), Oregon (where both her boys were born), Hawaii, Virginia (various times), Rio de Janeiro Brazil, Oklahoma, Bremerhaven Germany, and finally Carmichael California upon her husband’s retirement. During her Navy years, she was a volunteer Gray Lady at numerous hospitals, taught Sunday school, and sang in church choirs where ever she was living. After moving to Carmichael, she worked for the Sacramento County Welfare Department where she was a claims examiner. She retired from there in1984.

Raised as a Southern Baptist, she transferred to the Methodist Church and became a member of St. Mark’s United Methodist Church in Sacramento California in 1960. She was very active at St. Mark’s, teaching Sunday school, singing in the choir, playing the Bell Choir (traveling to play many places to perform), and participating in many Bible study classes. Prior to her husband’s passing, she traveled with him around the U.S. vacationing, attending ship reunions, and attending hundreds of Golden Senior Softball games and tournaments. She often kept score and was considered the most “stingy” scorekeeper they had. Many times she would have to defend her decisions about a “hit” or an “error” because she felt that the play should have been made, regardless of the player’s age, condition of the field, or their infirmity.

After her husbands’ passing, she sold their home in Carmichael and moved to Merrill Gardens Senior Living Facility in Citrus Heights California. She resided there for 10 years, living in her own apartment. She was extremely active in the activities at Merrill Gardens, joined the Red Hat Society and was elected “Queen Bee”, went every morning to Sunrise Mall to walk, and loved to shop in the nearby stores.

A life-long “learner”, she was constantly trying to improve herself. One of her proudest moments was completing her Associate Degree at American River College in her 70’s. She loved watching baseball as well as all types of sports, Indy 500 racing, reading all types of books (she read the entire Harry Potter series), studying the Bible, and attending movies with her family. She enjoyed Canasta, Pinochle, Scrabble, and other board games. She had great stories about her work at the FBI, her travels, and her family. At 80, she decided to learn the “computer” and actually took three classes without owning one. Finally the instructor told her she had to buy one to continue the classes. Reluctantly she purchased her first computer and “took off”. She set up a space in her apartment for her computer center, began playing card games on the internet, completed her family genealogy, and shopped for all types of items, especially clothes. She was able to drive safely until her late 80’s and remained an independent, sharp individual until suffering a series of falls. She eventually had to move to Laguna Woods, a residential living facility in Elk Grove California. She remained there for three years until her passing.

Mary Elizabeth, as she liked to be called, especially after being known as “Betty” for 50 plus years while her husband was alive, was a beautiful, active, and always happy person. Her smile would light up a room. She loved her family and reveled in their accomplishments. She had a wonderful life and very few regrets. She, in turn, was loved and admired by all who knew her. We MISS YOU Mom.

The family will have a private grave-side service and in lieu of flowers would appreciate any donations in her name to your favorite Veteran’s charity.