Obituary
UNION, Mich. - Mary Ellen Johnson, 82, of Long Lake, Union, died at 2:15 p.m. Monday, May 30, 2011, at Elkhart General Hospital of natural causes. A lung cancer survivor, she enjoyed over 12 healthy years after surgery.
She was born Aug. 2, 1928, in Elkhart, the youngest child of Albert Earl and Margaret Elaine (Seibert) Waterman. She attended Elkhart Central High School in the class of 1946, leaving school early due to a family emergency. She proudly completed her GED in 1972.
She is the former spouse of Richard N. (Dick) Johnson of Elkhart, who preceded her in death.
They had one son, Daniel T. Johnson of Union, who survives, along with a half sister, Esther Paulette "PJ" (Waterman) Blumenstine of Eustis, Fla.; and a niece, Cindy (Hosteter) Gauger of Silver Cliff, Wis.
Also preceding her in death were a sister, Doris E. Van Camp of Marcellus, Mich.; a brother, Richard E. Waterman of Yountville, Calif.; and a sister, Fern E. Neely of Edwardsburg, Mich.
Prior to becoming a homemaker, she worked in Elkhart at White Hall and later at NIBCO. In retirement, she became known locally as a "plant lady," selling succulents at local flea markets. She was a member of the Elkhart County Genealogical Society, Cass County Audubon and Vandalia 235 OES. She was an outspoken supporter of the Democratic Party.
A memorial service will be at 11 a.m. Monday, June 6, 2011, with visitation starting at 10 a.m. at Billings Funeral Home, 812 Baldwin St., Elkhart. Cremation will take place prior.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to your favorite charity, or support the Wellfield Botanical Gardens, P.O. Box 476, Elkhart, IN 46515-0476, one of Mary Ellen's beloved places.
She was born Aug. 2, 1928, in Elkhart, the youngest child of Albert Earl and Margaret Elaine (Seibert) Waterman. She attended Elkhart Central High School in the class of 1946, leaving school early due to a family emergency. She proudly completed her GED in 1972.
She is the former spouse of Richard N. (Dick) Johnson of Elkhart, who preceded her in death.
They had one son, Daniel T. Johnson of Union, who survives, along with a half sister, Esther Paulette "PJ" (Waterman) Blumenstine of Eustis, Fla.; and a niece, Cindy (Hosteter) Gauger of Silver Cliff, Wis.
Also preceding her in death were a sister, Doris E. Van Camp of Marcellus, Mich.; a brother, Richard E. Waterman of Yountville, Calif.; and a sister, Fern E. Neely of Edwardsburg, Mich.
Prior to becoming a homemaker, she worked in Elkhart at White Hall and later at NIBCO. In retirement, she became known locally as a "plant lady," selling succulents at local flea markets. She was a member of the Elkhart County Genealogical Society, Cass County Audubon and Vandalia 235 OES. She was an outspoken supporter of the Democratic Party.
A memorial service will be at 11 a.m. Monday, June 6, 2011, with visitation starting at 10 a.m. at Billings Funeral Home, 812 Baldwin St., Elkhart. Cremation will take place prior.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to your favorite charity, or support the Wellfield Botanical Gardens, P.O. Box 476, Elkhart, IN 46515-0476, one of Mary Ellen's beloved places.
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Mary E. Johnson, please visit our flower store.
