Lois Johnson

LOIS MARIE JOHNSON
Lois M. Johnson, 91, of Deckerville, died Friday, March 23, 2007 in Autumnwood of Deckerville. She was born June 11, 1915 in Newberry Township, OH to Noel Lee and Minerva Mae (Lambert) Johnston. She married Frederick Headly Johnson August 1, 1947 in Covington, OH. He died June, 1994.
Lois graduated both from Marion College in Indiana (2 year teaching degree) and from Cascade College in Portland, OR (AB degree). Upon graduation from Marion College, Lois received first prize for an essay she had written. Lois also wrote the music to her high school senior class song, and sang in a quartet at the commencement exercises. Before going to Cascade College, she was employed as a school teacher in Covington Elementary Schools for seven years, and for two and one-half years she worked at the Dakota Avenue Mennonite Brethren in Christ Church in Detroit. She also served on the faculty at Cascade College. Lois drove across the country from Ohio to Oregon by herself in a Model �"T” Ford. It was at Cascade College that she met and married Frederick H. Johnson, needing only to remove a �"t” from her last name. To this union were born three daughters: Ruth Ann, Esther Mae, and Jane Marie.
Together, Fred and Lois served the following churches: Vanport Community Church (Vanport City, OR), Soap Lake Community Church (Soap Lake, WA), Wapato United Missionary Church (Wapato, WA), Pleasant Hill UMC (Bronson, MI), Indiana Chapel UMC (Bremen, IN); Mizpah, Riverside, and New Greenleaf Circuit UMC (Cass City, MI), Cass City UMC (Cass City, MI), and East Wenatchee Friends Church (East Wenatchee, WA). While serving many of these churches, Lois also taught at local public schools. Of the many accounts in their lives, the Vanport flood stands out the most. It occurred Sunday, May 30, 1948. Lois wrote a small booklet detailing how God miraculously saved them from the flood waters by starting their car with a screwdriver. It was from this event that their life verse and song were selected: Isaiah 43:2 and God Leads His Dear Children Along. Lois taught at Evergreen Country School. She was very active in Cass City Missionary Church serving as Choir Director, church organist and in children’s ministry. Lois truly enjoyed music.
Lois is survived by her daughters: Ruth Ann (David M.) Waid of Cassopolis, Jane Marie (Mitchell) Anderson of Portland, OR; grandchildren: Christy Rand of Portland, OR; Andrew Waid of Osceola, IN, James (Shannon) Waid of New Boston, MI, Timothy Waid of New Boston, MI, Jeremy Rand of Portland, OR; great grandchildren: Nikolas, Aaron, Kylie and Elleanna. She is preceded in death by her infant daughter, Esther Mae Johnson; four sisters, a brother, a brother-in-law, and her parents.
Funeral service held 11:00 a.m. Monday, March 26, 2007 in Kranz Funeral Home Cass City with Rev. David Waid and Rev. Clif Jordon officiating. Memorials may be made to Gideons International or Cass City Missionary Church. Interment will be in Elkland Township Cemetery. Pallbearers for Mrs. Johnson are:Andrew Waid, James Waid, Timothy Waid, Jeremy Rand, Dick Sanford and Hal Hudson. Family and friends may share memories, prayers and stories with the family at www.kranzfuneralhome.com.
Visitation: 2 to 5 and 7 to 9 p.m. Sunday, March 25, 2007 at Kranz Funeral Home, Cass City
Arrangements by Kranz Funeral Home, Cass City, Michigan Debra L. Kranz, 989-872-2195