Johnson, Doris (1916-2012)

JOHNSON, RIDGLEY, LAUX

Posted By: Paul Nagy (email)
Date: 5/17/2012 at 16:34:34

Doris Johnson
December 21, 1916 - April 17, 2012

Doris Marie Johnson, 95, of Wesley Acres in Des Moines, died peacefully on Tuesday, April 17, 2012.

A daughter of Joel and Emma Jane (Ridgley) Johnson, Doris was born on December 21, 1916, near Marathon. She lived there until 1927 before she and her mother moved to Lewis. When she was in the eighth grade, she won the Interstate Spelling Contest in Council Bluffs beating out spellers from five different states. She graduated from high school in Atlantic and enrolled in Coe College. After completing two years of schooling there, she went to work for Connecticut Mutual Life Insurance Company in Des Moines in 1936. Later, she was employed at the Internal Revenue Service as a Tax Information Specialist, a position she held for twenty-four years. Because of her deteriorating health, she retired in 1965. She, subsequently, worked part-time at Grace United Methodist Church as Membership Secretary.

She was a fifty-eight year member of Grace United Methodist Church. She also belonged to the Des Moines Audubon Society, the Iowa Women's Philatelic Society, the United Methodist Women, the Wesley Acres Guild, and the National Association of Retired Federal Employees.

Having decided to move to Wesley Acres Retirement Home in 2000, Doris became involved with many activities there. She made a special effort to get acquainted with all the residents and staff. She brought joy to others with her smiles, with her reading to those who did not have good eye sight, of which she was blessed, and with her love of flowers which she shared so generously.

Her hobbies included lovingly caring for five Sheltie dogs in her home over a forty year period, playing the well-known game of Scrabble, feeding the birds, listening to music, doing long stitch, and reading.

Doris was preceded in death by her parents and her sister, Helen. She is survived by several cousins and a host of friends, all of whom will miss her dearly.

Funeral services were Friday, April 20, 2012, at the Iles Funeral Homes-Dunn's Chapel, Des Moines. Burial will be held at 11:30 a.m. Saturday, April 21, 2012, at the Poland Township Cemetery in Marathon.
Memorial contributions may be made to Grace United Methodist Church in Des Moines or the Good Samaritan Fund of Wesley Acres. Doris wishes special thanks be given to her cousin, Rosalind (Ron) Laux, of Lexington, Nebraska, and to her helpful friend, Maxine Robinson, of Des Moines.

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