Joan Marie Johnson

Joan Marie Johnson, 79, Mexico, Mo., formerly of Nevada, died Thursday, Aug. 4, 2011, at the Audrain Medical Center in Mexico, Mo. She was born May 11, 1932, in Leavenworth, Kan., to William Ross Gist and Anna Bolsenga Gist. She was married July 25, 1952, in Nevada, to William L. (Bill) Johnson, and he survives of the home.

Mrs. Johnson graduated from Baxter Springs High School, Baxter Springs, Kan., in 1950. She moved to Nevada in 1951 to live with her aunt Helyn Mathis. She went to work for Southwestern Bell Telephone Co., she worked for two years as a telephone operator. After her marriage, she and her husband, Bill, moved to Kansas City, Mo., and returned to Nevada in 1956. She worked at the Benton School in Nevada in the cafeteria for two years, moving to Mexico, Mo., in 1968. She worked for 17 years at the Audrain Medical Center in the food service department as a cashier. She was a member of the Missouri Lauriate Gamma Mu Beta Sigma Phi Sorority.

In addition to her husband, she is survived by two sons, Charles (Chuck) William Johnson, Columbia, Mo., and Russell L. Johnson, Jefferson City, Mo.; three grandsons, Christopher and Casey Johnson, both of Columbia, Mo., and Anthony Johnson, Jefferson City, Mo.; one sister, Helen Sue Thompson, Las Vegas, Nev. She was preceded in death by her parents, and one sister, Lorraine Carter.

Graveside services will be held at 2 p.m., Tuesday, Aug. 9, at Newton Burial Park, Nevada, with the Rev. David Rorabaugh officiating.

A visitation will be held at the First Christian Church in Mexico, Mo., Monday, Aug. 8, between 5 and 8 p.m.

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