Baxter, Verlin "Johnny" Johnson (1921-2013)

BAXTER, JOHNSON, MILLER, KOCHER, WILDING, THOMAS, HOWSER, WILKENS

Posted By: Paul Nagy (email)
Date: 6/4/2013 at 11:02:19

Verlin "Johnny" Johnson Baxter
May 22, 1921 - April 27, 2013

Verlin Johnson Baxter, 91, known as "Johnny" to her friends and family, passed away at her daughter's home with her daughters at her side on Saturday April 27, 2013. Johnny was born on May 22, 1921, in Storm Lake to Esther and Wilber Johnson.

Johnny attended Storm Lake High School and Buena Vista College before graduating from the University of Iowa-Ames in 1944 with a B.S. in Dietetics and Nutrition. Following her internship, she worked as the dietician at the Cook County Hospital in Chicago. On December 12, 1944, she married Dr. Robert Corwin Baxter, D.D.S. Subsequently, they moved to Keokuk to establish a dental practice and Johnny became the dietician at the Keosauqua Hospital in Van Buren County. In 1967, she moved to Jefferson City, Mississippi, to become an Administrative Assistant at Memorial Hospital in charge of the dietary and housekeeping departments. Previous employees of Memorial Hospital fondly remember her for the elaborate staff Christmas parties that she would plan and host. Following her retirement from Memorial in 1980, she worked at the Missouri Division of Health as a hospital surveyor. She retired from the State of Missouri in 1993.

Johnny had many talents. She loved the outdoors and spent many hours tending the woodland garden that she created in her back yard. The beautiful garden and the "fairy paths" she established served as a play area for her grandchildren, and they spent many hours with her there. An avid china painter, she belonged to the Jefferson City China Painters Club. Family and friends will best remember her for her dedication to family, her artistic gifts in the visual and performing arts, the beautiful gardens she created, her incredible talent in china painting, her culinary ability, and the special meals she created to share with others.

She is survived by her daughters, Sandra Miller, and her husband, Steve, of Grass Valley, California, Meg Kocher, and her husband, Bill, of Holts Summit, Missouri, and Sarah Wilding, and her husband, Doug, of Jefferson City; her eleven grandchildren: Jennifer Thomas; Eric, Scott, and Adam Howser; Jason and Joe Kocher; Brian Miller; Chelsea, Rebecca, and Mallory Wilding; and Michael Wilkens; and her eleven great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her parents; her brother, Dr. Wilber E. Johnson; and her daughter, Katherine Howser.

A private family celebration of life is planned as directed by Johnny. Memorials are suggested to Hospice Compassus or the American Cancer Society. Condolences may be left for the family online at heartlandcremation.com.

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