JoAnne Johnson

JoAnne (Emery) Johnson, 65, passed away on Saturday, May 7, 2011 after a battle with cancer. She lived much of her life in Cuhaghoga Falls, Ohio, Wadsworth, Ohio and finally back home to Copley, Ohio. JoAnne was born in Akron, Ohio on December 17, 1945.

JoAnne will be dearly missed by many friends and family.

She is survived by her daughter, Erlamond Ross Payne and husband Porter; son, Michael Paul Johnson; three grandchildren, Rebekah Shay Ross, Micah Daniel Ross and Luke Porter Payne all of Jarrell, Texas; two sisters, Charlotte Lynn Emery Davis and husband Timothy of Austin, Texas and Claudia Jane Emery of Dallas, Texas; niece, Tracy Lynn Coll and her daughter, Siobhan Emery Coll both of Austin, Texas; and many, many cousins.

She was preceded in death by parents Eileen Lucille (Becker) Emery on September 2, 1997and Paul Emery on August 19, 2007 and grandson Elijah Dalton on May 2, 1997.

JoAnne graduated from Copley High School in 1963. She received her BA from the University of Akron in 1967 with a major in speech and hearing therapy. JoAnne was a member of Kappa, Kappa, Gamma Sorority.

She loved her Stow School District parents and students, many whom were autistic and challenged in other ways. JoAnne often bought additional materials and added many of her own decorations, for various seasonal celebrations, to make the environment as bright and happy as possible. After retirement from Stow Schools, she taught at Lighthouse Academy Charter School in Akron for four years. JoAnne’s students were her upmost concern.

A graveside service will be held at 10:00 A.M. on Friday, May 13, 2011 at Cook-Walden Capital Parks Cemetery in Pflugerville, Texas.

Serving as pallbearers will be Timothy Davis, Michael Paul Johnson, Micah Daniel Ross, Porter Payne, Finton Coll and William Minor. Honorary pallbearers will be Mike Johnson, Tom Semonin, Terry Swearingen and Bob Macfarland.

In lieu of flowers, memorial may be made to the American Cancer Society, Trinity Lutheran Church, or the Autism Society.

Arrangements by Cook-Walden Davis Funeral Home, 2900 Williams Drive, Georgetown, Texas 78628 (512)863-2564.