Obituary of Shirley Johnson
Shirley (Margeret) Johnson
July 14, 1940 – November 24, 2020
Age 80 years
Margeret Shirley Johnson was born at home on the family farm on July 14, 1940 at Sunny Isle, Saskatchewan. Our mother was delivered into the world by a midwife by the name of Ila Murray to the happy parents Harris and Kathleen Schell. There she grew up helping on the farm doing several jobs, especially making cement culverts with her father since that was their main living at the time. She went to school at Sunny Isle first and then later to Pelly. At the age of 14 years old she went to live with her Godparents Willy and Margeret Whetstone. She cooked and cleaned for all their hired held, which was around 20 men. As she lived and worked for the family, she grew really close to their son Gordon. Mmom always called him her little brother. They both stayed in touch through their entire life. Gordon sadly passed away just a couple weeks before our mom. Her desire to find her own way in life became apparent when she would put her dancing shoes on. She would travel all over to go to the dances in the community. She loved to dance and of course, so did our father Ivan. Of course it didn’t take long, and our father swept her off her feet. They married on October 29, 1957 and moved to the Johnson family farm, where they would begin their lives as a married couple. It wasn’t long and the children started. There were three boys and then finally one girl. Our mother and father farmed there until 1979, where they decided to buy the Snack Bar in Pelly, Saskatchewan. They moved to Pelly in 1979 and started running their restaurant. Mom was such an amazing cook, so running a restaurant was second nature. Since all their children were in Alberta, the desire to be closer meant they would move out west also. They decided to sell the family farm and the Snack Bar.
It would be the start to quite a journey. The first big move would be to Whitecourt, Alberta in 1981. Our father started working at the mill at Blueridge. Our mother ended up working as a cook at three different restaurants. The Fifth Wheel would be the last place she would ever work as an employee. Our mother and father had bigger dreams to again be their own business operators. It would then again be another move to leave Whitecourt, Alberta and move to Fox Creek, Alberta in 1985. They would take over operating the Husky restaurant. Our parents would end up only being there until 1987. They ended up making several lifelong friends, customers, and business partners in just a short two year span. Our father and mother decided to make their last and final move to Dawson Creek, BC; Dawson Creek was a small city at the time, around 12000 people. The diverse landscape made it a farming, oil, gas, and mill community. This made our parents fit right into the mix. Making our father and mother even happier, all four of their children would also follow to live in the Dawson Creek area. Our mother and father would soon find out the word spread fast with the truckers. When they heard of them buying the T Manor in Dawson, her loyal customers from Fox Creek where lined up outside the front of the restaurant for blocks. The workers and residents of Dawson also came. The business took off and went really well for our parents. As they settled into the community our parents both worked long hours and days. Our mother’s relief time was nighttime bingo and our father loved driving in the countryside, looking at the farms, crops, and wildlife. As life went by so fast, the four children met their significant others and married. Soon to follow came all ten grandchildren, and our mother and father were so happy. It was now 1992 late in the year, and our parents said it was now time to retire. Now it was their time to enjoy the rest of their journey. They travelled and enjoyed being around their children, grandchildren, and friends. Suddenly with great sadness, our mother lost her husband, we lost our father, and our children lost their grandfather. Our mother was really strong, and before we knew it, she was starting her journey without our father. She spent a lot of time travelling and visiting her family, where ever they may be. The coffee pot was always on. Before you knew it, there would be a house-full, always helping anyone and everyone she could. In the summers, our mother would spend so much time outside planting and growing her beautiful flowers. Her yard was something else. In the winter when our father was home, she would play her favorite pastime, bingo in the evenings. Though that was only when she wasn’t spending her winters in Phoenix, Arizona. She loved Phoenix and all the places she saw. Her body felt so good; the change of climate made all the difference. As she got older, travelling was harder. Our mother spent more time closer to home. Going to bingo, playing Yahtzee with her really good friend Shirley Smith and enjoying her family. However thing were starting to change with our mother’s health. No matter what she was going through, her mind was sound. Her only wish was to stay living in her own home. That wish came true. Our mother managed all her affairs, drove her own vehicle, and tended to all her bills and banking.
Our beautiful mother, grandmother, great-grandmother who love unconditionally will forever be missed and loved. Our mother is with Jesus now, with her new body free of pain, dancing with our father, tying his tie, once again. Waiting patiently for all of us to come and dance with them. When our journey also comes to an end.
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Mom, you are my mom first, my sister that I never had, lastly you’re my best friend. You never judged and always listened,
Your loving daughter,
Mildred (Willis)
Nos plus sincères sympathies à la famille et aux amis de Shirley
Johnson 1940 2020..
reynars funeral home & crematorium
Décès pour la Ville: Dawson, Province: Colombie britanique