Avis de décès de Kana-Roberta Johnson - Nécrologie - MesAieux.com

KANA ROBERTA "BEMA" JOHNSON - WILLISTON - Friday, Jan. 8, 2010, marked the passing of Kana Johnson, who had just celebrated her 85th birthday on Dec. 17. Roberta, the youngest of five children born to Fate Lafayette and Charlene (Tucker) Jones, was born in 1924, in rural Marshall County, Kentucky. Delivered by a midwife, Roberta was quickly exposed to the practical, yet whimsical nature of her father, who sent her sister, Juanita (now 92) and brothers, Joe, Cletus "Bounce" and James (all deceased) upstairs during the birth, beating on the stovepipe to protect them from the sounds of labor and then telling them that Roberta had dropped out of the pipe, a myth believed by the siblings for some time. Roberta enjoyed a keen memory of her past, often recounting such stories of humor and love to her children and grandchildren. Roberta completed high school in Benton Kentucky and, until then, worked daily, even as a youngster, on the family farm to help the family survive the depression. Following graduation, Roberta and family moved outside the Detroit area to find employment, where Roberta spent the war years building airplanes, helping give rise to the phrase, "Rosie the Riveter." The end of the war saw the return of a young Army Sergeant, Dale C. Johnson, who quickly became the love of Roberta's life. Tales of their romance are somewhat legendary, including how Dale jumped the picket fence to ask her out on their first date and then accidentally aired out the car on that date. Dale and "Sug," as he affectionately referred to her (short for sugar), were married on Sept. 28, 1946, and celebrated the birth of their first child, Dale Frederick, on Dec. 2, 1949, and the second son, Dennis James, on May 19, 1952. For a time, Roberta worked at Burroughs Corp., building equipment for the space program, but ultimately settled into being a full time mom/housekeeper, her intended occupation. Following Dale's retirement from teaching high school, the couple and her sister, Juanita, who Dale and Roberta cared for over 40 years, moved from Michigan to Hamilton, Montana to be near Fred and his wife, Sue. While there, Roberta and Dale frequently enjoyed the company of Fred's three children, Michael, James and Amanda. Dale and Roberta were frequent church goers, often entertaining the many friends they made while in Montana for 22 years. Following Fred's relocation of central, Montana, the couple moved to Williston, Vermont in 2008 so that Dennis, his wife Charlene and their five grandsons, Brett, Cory, Drew, Tristan, and Ty, could help care for them and enjoy their remaining years. The arrival of the first grandchild, Brett, resulted in Roberta's assumption of the nickname "Bema," which became the chosen nomenclature of the family. During her final days, the Vermont family members kept a 24 hour vigil by Bema's side to comfort her as she neared her passing. Bema was a self taught seamstress, and a fashion Diva in her own right. She upholstered and refinished furniture, collected antiques, and took great joy in decorating her Christmas tree, even as she was sick during the most recent holiday. A Prayer Service will be held at 3 p.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 12, 2010, at the Ready Funeral Home, South Chapel, 261 Shelburne Road, Burlington, VT. Visiting hours will be from 1 p.m. until the time of the service. Bema will be laid to rest in Unity Cemetery in Hardin, Kentucky at the end of the week. The family strongly requests that in lieu of flowers contributions in Bema's memory may be made to the Vermont Foodbank, online at vtfoodbank.org or via mail at Vermont Foodbank, attn: Annual Fund Manager, P.O. Box 254, South Barre, VT 05670. Arrangements are in the care of the Ready Funeral and Cremation Service South Chapel, 261 Shelburne Rd., Burlington. To send online condolences, please visit www.readyfuneral.com.