Marian Wilson Johnson

Marian Wilson Johnson was born in Waterloo, Iowa, on January 20, 1933. Her parents, Tom, and Erna were hardworking people, and they instilled in her a strong sense of community and a deep appreciation for the simple things in life. Marian grew up in a small farming town where she spent her days playing with her siblings and friends in the neighborhood. Her family owned two lots in Waterloo, and Marian spent many happy hours either watching her Father build wooden furniture in his shop or helping her Mother in the family's kitchen and garden, learning how to grow and harvest vegetables that would later become a staple of their family meals. As a young woman, Marian started working as a switchboard operator for Bell Telephone Company. As you can imagine, she talked to many people over the phone through her work. At a dance one evening, Joe, who was working for the military setting up communications in the area, recognized her voice from the telephone company. They fell in love, later married, and moved to Burlington, Vermont, where they started their family and Marian became a devoted wife and mother. Marian was a wonderful mother to her five children - Paula, Sandy, Danny, Brad, and Jimmy. She always put her family first, making sure that they were well-fed, well-clothed, and well-loved. She was a master at stretching a dollar, and even when times were tough, she managed to create a warm and loving home. In addition to her dedication to the family, Marian had a passion for travel. She loved to explore new places, and she made sure that her children had the opportunity to do the same. Some of the most loved family trips were to Wyoming, Iowa, California, and the Grand Canyon, among others. Marian, her daughters, Paula, and Sandy, were featured on ‘Across the Fence’; a local broadcast from University of Vermont. This 15 min TV program helped educate the Vermont community, give a voice to the dairy farmers, and spoke to the spirit and lifestyle of Vermonters. Marian also took her children on factory tours at places like Hershey's Chocolate, Camel/Marlboro, Bush Beer, Kellogg Cereal, John Deere, and Coca-Cola. Marian was a semi-finalist for the Mrs. America contest, which to enter the contest she was required to answer a few questions and submit a recipe. Her interest in the contest was purely to win the grand prize - an all-expense-paid trip to Miami Beach, Florida. She really didn't like cold weather or snow, so this looked like a great way to find relief from a cold Vermont spring. Later in life, Marian and Joe moved to Gainesville, Florida, where they ran several small businesses together. Marian was always willing to lend a hand, whether it was cleaning the restaurant, managing the books, or volunteering at her local church. She was never in a bad mood, and she rarely had a bad word to say about anyone. She was generous with her time and her resources, always willing to help someone even if it wasn't convenient for her. Before her 70th birthday, Marian moved to Orlando to be closer to her son Jimmy, his wife Denise, and her beloved grandson Nathan. Her last 20 years were spent making new friends, getting in her daily exercise in the pool, walking at the mall, or pushing a shopping cart at the grocery store. She enjoyed frequent visits from Nathan and his friends, and she spent many hours reading the Bible, going to church, and keeping up with the news. In her later years, Marian suffered from dementia, but even in the midst of her illness, she remained a kind and gentle soul. She passed away peacefully on May 4, 2023, leaving behind a legacy of love, kindness, and generosity that will never be forgotten. Marian is survived by her brother, Ronnie Wilson, her children – Paula Christensen, Sandy Davis (John Davis), Danny Johnson (Genny Johnson), Brad Johnson (Amy Johnson) and Jimmy Johnson (Denise Johnson), her grandchildren – Shannon Leigh Christensen (preceded in death), Matthew Jason Christensen, Cynthia Amber (Christensen) Dillman (Drew Dillman), Erin Elyse Davis (Ryan McKean), Zachariah (Zach) Brian Davis, Maxwell Joseph Johnson, Timothy Morgan Johnson, Alycia Marie Johnson, Nathan Thoms Johnson, and 9 great grandchildren, all who were the lights of her life and of whom she was so proud. A funeral service to celebrate Marian's life will be held on May 15, 2023, at 11 am at the Williams Thomas Funeral Home Westarea 143rd street in Newberry, Florida. Following the service, she will be laid to rest at Countryside Baptist Church, NW 39th Avenue, Gainesville, Florida.

Marian Wilson Johnson

January 20, 1933 - May 4, 2023