Mary Alice Johnson

Mary Alice Johnson

Born: February 10, 1945

Died: May 11, 2015

Mary Alice Johnson, 70, of Redby, MN died Monday, May 11, 2015 at her home.

Funeral services will be at 11:00 am, Saturday, May 16, 2015 at the St. Mary's Catholic Church in Red Lake, Minnesota. A wake will begin at 3:00pm, Thursday, May 14, 2015, at the Redby Community Center in Redby, MN, and continue until the time of the service at the church. Interment following cremation will be at the St. Antipas Episcopal Cemetery in Redby, MN, under the direction of the Cease Family Funeral Home of Bemidji.

She was born on February 10, 1945 in Blue Earth, MN the daughter of Phillip and Clara (Sack) Parnell. She attended Catholic schools throughout her childhood. She graduated from the College of St. Catherine's in St. Paul, MN with a BA in teaching in January of 1968. She taught first grade in Antigo, Wisconsin for one year. She married Arnold "Tiger" Johnson on November 15, 1969 in St. Paul, MN, they moved to Redby, and together had 5 children. She was a Director for Red Lake Day Care from 1971 until 1973. She was a stay at home Mom for a number of years and then went to work for Red Lake Headstart in 1977 until 1989. She was a teacher at the Red Lake Elementary School from 1989 until 1991. Then returned to Red Lake Headstart where she became the Education Coordinator until she retired in 2010. She worked as a Foster Grandparent until 2012. She loved to teach children, read books, bake, do ceramics, crafts, beading, and puzzles. Most of all she loved spending time with her grandchildren and family.

She is survived by her: Daughters, Sheila (Tony) Hill of Redby,

Debra (Melvin Smith) Johnson of Ponemah, MN,

Special Daughter, Ann Hallowell of Minneapolis, MN,

Sons, Ira Johnson of Thief River Falls, MN,

Charles Johnson of Redby,

Special Son, Sheldon Brown of Redby,

Special Sisters, Elaine and Yvonne Johnson of Redby

Grandchildren: Aaron Johnson, Trevor Johnson, Anthony Hill Jr., Arial Johnson, Drew May Johnson, Andreis Hill, Kiarra Johnson, Isaiah Johnson, Trystyn Johnson, and one great-grandchild Joseph Wind-Hill.

Special Friends, Sue Champion of White Bear Lake, MN,

Pat Saxon of Eau Claire, Wisconsin,

Dawn Hart of Oklahoma

She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, son Andrew, grandson Julian, brother Phillip Jr., Mother-in-law Lucille, Father-in-law Ole Johnson, brother-in-law Edward, sister-in-law Darlene, nieces Renee, Mikey Jo, Noelle, and Michaelana.

Active Casketbearers will be: Aaron Johnson, Trevor Johnson, Isaiah Johnson, Tony Hill Jr., Dwight Johnson, Jeff Roy, Sheldon Brown, Jeffrey Roy Jr., Devin Roy, Josh Roy, Tim Roy, Ryan Roy, Nicholas Roy, Kevin King, Dolan Donnell, and Melvin Smith Jr.

Honorary Casketbearers will be: Yvonne and Linda Johnson, Melanie, Sue, Beth, and Nicole Roy, Ann Hallowell, Andreis Hill, Drew May-Johnson, Kiarra, Arial, and Trystyn Johnson, Shayla Wind, Margaret White, Charlotte Johnson, Thern Hegstrom, Frances Strong, Melvina Johnson, Betty Schoenborn, Sandy Brown, Sharon Garrigan, Ellen Lussier, Luanne Mayberry-Iceman, Phyllis Thunder, Berta Spears, Gail Stillday, Phylis Gurno, Lisa Lawrence, Judy Roy, Dawne Hart, and Betty Beaulieu.