Shirley Avis Johnson

Shirley was preceded in death by her parents, William Harry Mason and Cora Margaret, Mason, her husband, Norman E Johnson, Senior, her son, Norman Johnson, Jr, nephew, Tim Johnson, brother, William Harry Mason, II, sister, Joanne Merritt Hill, Isaac Keels great grandson and husband Oscar Kenyon. She is survived by her sister Catherine Jean Kessler and her daughters, Cindy Sukal, (Brian Fisher), Sherry Stipp (Greg), Sondra Wright, (George), grandchildren Carrie Sorenson,(Jason), Angie Maynard, Jody Hansel, Jennifer Ray, (Mike) , Monica Keels, Nathan Howard,(Chaka), Carly Ward, Ryan Stipp, Ben Stipp, (Joanna) Joy Johnson, Norman Johnson III (Melinda), Joe Johnson, Joel Fisher (Rain), Luke Fisher, Olivia Fisher and 31 great grandkids and 4 great great grandkids

Shirley was born and raised on the west side of Indianapolis to Margaret and William Harry Mason. She attended and graduated in 1955 from Ben Davis high school where she began her active social life working on the yearbook and school newspaper. One month after her graduation, she married the love of her life, Norman Johnson. They began their marriage in a home in Plainfield, Indiana. In 1966 they moved to the Southwest Side of Indpls to Decatur Township. There they raised their 5 children. (3 biological children, one niece and one nephew): They were extremely involved in the community, including Girl Scouts Decatur Township school activities, bowling, card playing and spending time at their lake cottage on Lake Freeman in Monticello Indiana, After the kids grew up, they enjoyed spending winters in Florida, and the rest of the year back home in Indiana. This is where they helped with their grandchildren and spent their time visiting with family and friends.

Shirley worked in various fields: starting with the Indiana State Police, Columbia Distributing with her dad, S&S Garage Builders with Norman and then they moved into the restaurant business together with other family members. In the early 1990’s. Shirley began working with Cindy at the Coachman Restaurant. Larry and Becky Painter, and the rest of the coachman staff and customers, became her second family. She continued working/partying there during the warm weather months until she retired at the age of 75

Shirley was married to Norm for 45 wonderful years. After Normans passing, she moved to Avon, and then journeyed to Sunny Florida. While several years of living in a mobile Home Park ,Shirley met Oscar Kenyon. He was her second love. Oscar came into her life at the perfect time. They enjoyed visiting casinos, friday Nights with the dirty Dozen, Chippers and so many other activities. But their main passion was traveling to visit family and friends. Luckily Sonnie was living in Florida to support and watch over them. To make it even better, Cindy and Sherry had opened a B&B on Tybee Island, which made it more convenient for family visits. The two of them kept the roads hot for the next couple traveling from Florida, Missouri, Indiana, Ohio and Tennessee. Then on March 25, 2018 they were married on the beach. Unfortunately, sweet Oscar passed away in the fall of 2019. Shirley was lost after losing Oscar and the days were melancholy for her. The next couple of years, Shirley spent in hospitals and nursing facilities bedridden from a fall. Sonnie was there to help her through the long days. Cindy and Sherry, her grandchildren and great grandchildren visited often to support her. She lived for all of those visits. Her last few years were not exactly what she would’ve chosen, but she found the love of her family helped her through. She passed peacefully surrounded by loved ones.

Memorial Service to be held March 24, 2024 at The Coachman Restaurant at 2:00pm and Celebration of Life following from 3-6.