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Mary A. Johnson

Mary A. Johnson

MARQUETTE, MI – Mary Arbutus Johnson, age 88, of Marquette, entered eternal life Friday morning, February 24, 2017, in the loving, comforting care of her family. Mary passed at her son’s home, across the street from the home where she was born and in the house where she had, years earlier, resided and raised her own family.

Born March 29, 1928, in Marquette, a daughter of Delbert and Mildred (Lenore) Parker, Mary was a lifelong Marquette resident. Known for her excellent cooking abilities, and coming from a large family, she often was able to pull off great meals with very little to work with. Over the years she had various employments through cooking at the former Morgan Heights, owning and managing The Spot, cook at Brookridge youth home, cooking at the Officer’s Club at K.I. Sawyer Air Force Base. Mary loved people and was always ready for a good time and good game of cards. Planting her gardens brought her pure joy and she would knit and crochet intricate doilies and crafts for family and friends. She enjoyed picking blueberries and spending time at camp on Sporley Lake where she could take pontoon rides, have a sauna, and savor a cold beverage. However, nothing came close to time spent with her grandchildren. She “double loved” them and they spent many summers with her grandchildren at the camp on Sporley Lake and even swam with her grandchildren in the lake when she was 88 years young. The grandkids and Granny were a mutual admiration society and they learned many life lessons from times spent with her.

A devoted mother, grandmother, sister, and aunt, Mary is survived by her children, Steve (Sandy) Johnson, Don (Terry) Johnson, and Wayne (Sue) Johnson; her grandchildren, Jake (Sarah) Johnson, Amy (Toby) Thomas, Shawn (Dee) Johnson, Javelin (Carissa) Johnson, Erik (Danielle) Johnson, Brad (Melinda) Johnson, and Luke (Helana) Johnson; great-grandchildren, Lucille and Sylvia Johnson, Waylon Thomas, Caitlin, Kristofer, Kaiden, and Trinity Johnson, Kimberly, Ashton, Lillianna, Alyssa, Alexys, and Evelyn Johnson; great great-grandson, Zeke; a sister, Sandy Runion; brothers, Mike, Joe, and Leonard Parker; numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins.

In addition to her parents, Mary was preceded in death by her husband of 59 years, Harvey Johnson; and siblings, Betty, Edward, Joan, Melvin, and Rose Parker.

A Celebration of Life, honoring Mary, will be held at the Little Lake American Legion Post on March 18, 2017 at 2:00 pm with a reception to follow.

In her memory, her grandkids would like you to think of Mary “Granny” every time you see a hummingbird.

The Fassbender Funeral Home is serving the family, where condolences may be expressed online at fassbenderfuneralhome.com.