Julia "Judy" Mae Johnson Obituary (1929

Julia Mae (Judy) Johnson was born October 31, 1929 in Paris, Missouri to Luther Biel Anderson and Eulice Frances(Albertson) Anderson. She was 2nd of three girls. She is predeceased by her older sister Lea Ellen Johns and survived by her beloved baby sister Esther Lou Archer who was 10 years younger. Mom died September 19, 2024 at 8:53 AM with family by her side. Just a few minutes before she went to Jesus, her granddaughter Sarah put her cellphone to mom's ear and played Dad and Mom's love song titled, "It's Such a Pretty World Today" by Wynn Stewart. Mom opened her one little eye, relaxed and started her new journey in heaven. Mom moved to Washington when she was about 11. She was baptized in the Yakima River at 14. Judy loved Jesus and endeavored to teach her family about him with faith and works. In 1948 she married her soulmate Ruel Johnson in Idaho. They kept their vows for 65 years. They sacrificed and loved all their family members till the day they died. Never once did she shirk any responsibilities including the care of her parents and older sister. Mom worked in the fields picking vegetables and fruit starting at twelve. Later in her teens she worked in a hardware store in WApato, and the St. Mary's store. Occasionally, she worked in the asparagus for DelMonte in Toppenish. For 44 years she worked for Cowin and Son Ranches as a fruit packer obtaining her Golden Packer Excellent Pack Award Card. Work was no stranger to her. Not surprising that her hobbies also benefited her family. Mom loved gardening, canning, sewing, going on drives with dad, music, art and created a beautiful Nativity scene for Christmas. The TV soap "The Young and the Restless" has probably lost it's longest viewer and biggest fan. Mom collected cookbooks so when her macular degenerative disease messed with her eyes she lost gardening and reading. However, she managed to garden until age 92 and at approx. 90 she won the blue rosetta ribbon for her 53.4lb watermelon at the fair. Getting old was really hard for Miss Independent for sure. I think biscuits and gravy were her very favorite (if you made them right) definitely a favorite. Dad called her Jude, Russ called her Julie Mae, I called her Judah Mae, but her favorite name was Grandma! Which was also renamed to Grams Doody, Mammaw, Gamma, etc by her 4 grandkids and 13 great grandkids. There was not a day that went by without her asking about or calling her grandkids to see what they were up too. She adored them, they knew it and adored her back. She also had many nephews and nieces that came to visit her, many of the Johnson Clan came annually from afar. She loved them all. Doug and Lena Cowin continued bringing her their beautiful fresh fruit and friendship till she died. She went into her hospital bed in her home on March 4th of 2024. She hated it and many a time I'd hear her pray for God to take her. "I wanna get out of here!" Judy and her family would like to thank her GardenGirl Pal, Dr. Amanda Ryder, for excellent medical care and friendship. The hospice staff from Multicare Memorial. Every aspect of that was quality at any hour. Mom's granddaughter, Sarah Julia Koffler RN for communicating with hospice and spending last three days of mom's life with no sleep. Mom had the love and dignity she deserved in her own home her way. Also a huge thank you to all the Brady, Cowin and Gimlin families for lifelong friendships with our parents. There is no substitute for quality! Momma, you finally got out of that bed! This is not goodbye, just "We'll see you later"!! Thanks for the memories my Judah Mae, until we meet again. I'll bring the biscuits. You bring the gravy. Philippians chapter 4