Born November 29, 1918 in Boston, MA, she was the third daughter of the late William and Anna (Adelof) Murray. While Anna lived through childbirth, sadly her mother did not, so Anna was named after her late mother, whom she never knew. She was the youngest of three girls in her family and is preceded in death by her two older sisters, Ruth Davida Murray and Velma Elizabeth Murray.
Her sad beginning made her a champion for the under-dog and very empathetic toward anyone who suffered similar losses. She excelled in school cultivating her lifelong passion for reading and learning, yet her youth was also full of energy as she enjoyed dancing, cheerleading, tennis, movies, music, and church. She credited her daily visits with a godly neighbor, Mrs. O’Dougherty (and her lively family), as a surrogate mother who helped shape her belief in God, reassuring Anna through kindness, scriptures, laughter, and encouragement.
College for women was discouraged in her family, so after graduating from high school in 1936, she embarked on various jobs during the Great Depression that included hair styling, waitressing, and banking. Because of Anna’s gift of life, she embraced living as an adventure, thus convincing her America-loving, Scottish-born, strict father that her love for the USA could best be served by enlisting in the US Coast Guard in 1943 as a SPAR (which is an acronym of the Coast Guard’s motto: Semper Paratus - Always Ready), working in the inaugural administrative role usually filled by men.
After being honorably discharged in 1946, she worked in Washington D.C. as a secretary for the Dept. of Veterans Affairs when she was offered the opportunity to work as a civilian secretary for the US Army in Tokyo, Japan. While working in Japan, Anna met her future spouse of 64 years, Lt. Col. (RET) Gove Johnson. They married there in 1950 and started Anna’s next phase of life as military wife and mother of five children (Gove M., Gary, Lynne, Marylou and Molly). Her husband’s military career included travel and separation, but Anna made lasting friendships wherever the Army took her, and she genuinely found enjoyment with each new chapter of her long life. She had the rare ability to relate to her five children, nine grandchildren and five great grandchildren at each stage of their lives as disciplinarian, role model, teacher, helper, encourager, advisor, and friend.
Anna devoted herself, her time, and her writing and typing skills to help her husband and children acquire numerous college degrees. She was a wordsmith, witty and well versed in many areas of interest whether politics, current events, parenting and family, dogs, education, Christianity, sewing, British comedies, Big Band music, languages, or history. She was a patriotic American who deeply loved this vast country, especially NY’s apples, FL’s warmth, and VA’s rich history. Her gifts of hospitality, mercy, and grace will live on in her family, whom she loved beyond measure.
A Celebration of Life Service will be held at 1:00 p.m. on Saturday, October 10, 2020 at Lyndhurst United Methodist Church. Burial will follow in the church cemetery.
There will be no formal viewing or visitation at the funeral home.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in Anna’s honor to the Disabled American Veterans at www.dav.org or to the Augusta Health Foundation, c/o Hospice of the Shenandoah, P.O. Box 1000, Fishersville, VA 22939.
