Mary F. Johnson

Like the crossing over Jordan, Mary Frances [Babian] Johnson, left the golden days of autumn for the golden streets of Eternity, November 3, 2013, at the blessed age of 91. She was born in Wagoner, Oklahoma, August 12, 1922, to Roy Richard and Helen (Palmer) Robertson. Mary and her brother, Richard, grew up with parents who loved the Lord, across the oil fields of plains, and settled in Texas in the 1930’s. Just as the Bible describes the tents, so too, the Robertson family lived through the Depression, spending several years on the lease in a tent provided by God. Music filled the home, with hours of singing together, and also in church.

Upon graduating from Kilgore High School, Mary was encouraged by her brother to join him at Wheaton College, in Illinois. He slept in the furnace room in Wheaton to cover the cost of her study. Very soon after arriving, at a hosted fudge party for the women’s house, John Babian of Romeo, Michigan, was taken by the sweet and fair-haired sister of his classmate. The same week that Richard and Peggy (Stam) Robertson were married, so too, John and Mary wed as graduation and the call to seminary came. In the backyard of a church couple, with her parents blessing and presence (one trip from Texas) they wed May 27, 1944. They left for seminary at Eastern Theological Seminary in Philadelphia. They served churches in Maxwell, NE, Cadillac and Monroe, Michigan, as a part of the American Baptist Churches. John left the pastorate in 1965 to join the Region staff, and the family moved to Grass Lake, then built and home in Mason, MI. Mary continued to teach school, having finished her bachelor’s degree at Eastern Michigan University. She joined the staff at Alaiedon Elementary where she taught primarily 1st and 2nd graders from 1966-1987. Mary and John were blessed with four children, John Wesley (born in Longview, TX), David Leslie (born in North Platte, NE), Charles Edward, and Rebecca Helen, both born in Cadillac, MI. John died suddenly in October 1971, and Mary and her children stayed in Mason to find new ways of living the life of faith. Mary loved old houses, and took up a project of a Queen Anne cottage on Oak Street.

In 1979, with her children all grown and launched for life, Mary moved to Lansing, for a condominium life, and became a member of First Baptist Church. Soon after arriving, the discovery of colon cancer brought a Christian deacon, Richard Johnson, a widower (Jean Palmer Johnson, deceased, 1978), to call upon her in the hospital. True love struck between the two Christian school teachers, and they were married on July 11, 1980. While Dick’s children (Jolaine, Leslie, Christine and David) were also grown, the grandchildren continued to arrive. Many happy times for the two families continued, with summer’s spent at the Johnson lakeside homestead cottage in Curtis, MI. Crossword and jigsaw puzzles, card and games of all sorts, including croquet, boat rides and Northern adventures were enjoyed as family life and love blended together, and always included faithful service to the Lord at Christ Community Church in Lansing. Dick and Mary joyfully sang for several years as members of the YAH Singers, and enjoyed favorite pastimes together of walking, sharing books, doing puzzles, playing cards and UP travel. As the retirement years passed, the long stays of spring to autumn gave way to the need be closer to doctors and hospitals in Lansing. In the recent years, Mary’s health allowed her to be a constant witness for her Savior, during many hospital stays for heart, frailty, and related health conditions.

After recovering recently from a broken leg and surgery, including months long rehab stay at Burcham CRH, Mary came ‘home’ and she and Dick spent their final weeks together. God always knew that her heavenly home, to be filled with reunions and rejoicing, would be ready on November 3, 2013, but we did not. We can hardly believe after so many struggles from which she recovered, that her favorite chair would allow for her final breath, which came so suddenly, as she was ushered to the throne of grace before her Lord and King.

Her name has been read from Christ’s Book of Life, and her reunion complete with those who predeceased her: her Parents, her Brother, Husband John, sister-in-laws, Peggy Robertson, Grace (Johnson) Smith, Thelma (Bade) Babian, brothers- in-law, Arthur Babian, Albert, Bill, and Harry Johnson. We’ll learn new ways to live without sweet Mary; her husband of 33 years, Richard C. Johnson of Lansing; her children, J. Wesley (Patty) of Birmingham, David (Betty) of DeWitt, Charles Edward, her faithful son of Brooklyn, NY, Becky (Peter) Murthum, of Lansing; her cherished grandchildren, Ben and Angie Babian (Springfield, OH), Andy and Mindy Babian (Huntsville, AL), Philip and Lindsay Babian (Canton, MI), Laura and Aaron Cyrus (Aurora, CO), Emma (Tony) Nelson (Lansing, MI) and Max Murthum (class of 2014 Eastern High School). In addition, Mary will be deeply missed by Dick’s family, including dearly loved grandchildren Rachel Nakfoor, and Kyle (Tronicka) Johnson, Dick’s faithful daughter, Leslie Johnson (Haslett, MI), Jolaine Johnson (Beverly, MA), Christine and Ronald Nakfoor (Marietta, GA), and David and Loree Johnson (Okemos, MI). She also survived by loving nieces and nephews from the Robertson, and Babian families, and Dick’s sister, Carrie Mishler (Sugarcreek, OH). And for her constant joy, her little ‘Great-Grands” delighted her—Nathan, Rachel, Emerson, and Aaron. Those who are yet to be born will be told of Grandma Johnson, and her faithful prayer life, for years to come.

While her physical presence has departed, she will be in our hearts, as we read the Word, lift a song in Praise, and offer Thanksgiving for God’s blessings, remembering until we meet again, the blessing that He gave to all of us who knew her days of living, loving, and leading us to Him. For those desiring, contributions may be made in memory of Mary to Christ Community Church, 227 N. Capitol Ave, Lansing, MI 48933. The family is being served by Gorsline Runciman Funeral Homes, Lansing. Memories and condolences may be shared with the family at www.grlansing.com.