Iris VanDavier Johnston

Iris was graduated from Ball High School in 1941 and worked as a telephone operator before completing a pre-med course at Lamar College in Beaumont, TX. After receiving her associate degree, she trained as an x-ray technician at the Hotel Dieu Hospital, where she met the love of her life, Arthur L. Johnston, whom she married on October 4, 1946. He preceded her in death by seven days.

Iris was a homemaker during her married her life. Following the Johnstons' retirement to Harbor House Assisted Living in Dunnellon, FL, in the summer of 2007, Iris served as President of the Residents' Council from 2008-2013 and also edited a newsletter called "In the Gardens," interviewing and writing feature articles on staff and residents. She was an avid reader and although she suffered from macular degeneration, she enjoyed listening to audio books from the Florida Talking Books Library.

Iris served as pianist for several churches throughout her life, in Texas, Pennsylvania, and Florida. She was a member of Morriston Baptist Church.

The Johnstons have five daughters: Dr. Barbara (Mrs. Thomas J.) Frieling of Tallahassee, FL; Terri (Mrs. Ronnie) Stodghill of Dunnellon, FL; Iris Jean (wife of Philip Schmidt) of Seminole, FL; Donna (Mrs. Raymond) Sapp of Ft. Worth, TX; and Linda Bergen (Mrs. Frank Losee) of Dade City, FL).

Iris leaves seven grandchildren: Garth Frieling of Weaverville, NC; Jennifer Stodghill Bond Gibbs (Mrs. Luke Gibbs) of Dunnellon, FL; Prasad (Tom) Stodghill of Ocala, FL; Ian Johnston-Schmidt, a student at Southern Methodist University in Dallas, TX; Savannah Johnston-Schmidt, a student at Tulane University in New Orleans, LA; Matthew Sapp of Ft. Worth, TX, and Adam Sapp of Albuquerque, NM; and seven great-grandchildren: Savannah and Patrick Bond and Garrett, Mattie, and Griffin Gibbs of Dunnellon, FL, and Emily and Brooke Stodghill of Ocala, FL. She is survived by one brother, James Van Davier of Chesapeake, VA.

A graveside service will be held at Forest Lawn Memory Gardens at 5740 S. Pine Avenue in Ocala on Friday, June 27 at 10 am. The family requests that in lieu of flowers, those friends who wish to honor Iris's memory make a contribution to the American Bible Society (Bibles for Troops) at 1865 Broadway, New York, NY 10023-7505 or Samaritan's Purse at PO Box 3000, Boone, NC 28607.