In Loving Memory of Sarah Ann Johnson – KRTN Enchanted Air Radio

Sarah Ann Johnson passed away on August 15, 2017 in the home of her daughter Teresa, in Albuquerque, NM.

She was born November 16, 1922 in Port Huron, Michigan. She moved to Raton with her husband “TJ” Johnson in 1972.

She was the mother of 6 children, Colleen Nelis and her late husband Jimmy Nelis, Shawn Johnson, Mary Kyle Schumpp and her late husband, Jerry Schumpp, Tim Johnson and his wife Linda, Teresa D’Anza Martinez and her husband Nathan, and Melissa Bowers. She has 8 grandchildren and 9 great grandchildren. Her children believe she would tell you her 94 years were full and complete. They often refer to her as a “woman before her time”.

She graduated from the University of Michigan in 1944 with a language degree. She passed up an opportunity as an interpreter with the United Nations to join the Navy, where she taught flight instrumentation to Navy pilots during WW II. After WWII she met and married Thomas R. Johnson (TJ). While living in the Midwest she taught high school foreign language where she was well loved and respected by her students. In Raton she taught at St. Patrick’s Catholic School and worked in Personnel at MCMC Long Term. She and TJ were also entrepreneurs, owning and operating a small hobby shop and then purchasing and renovating Raton’s El Portal Hotel which they owned until 1997.

Her spirit of volunteerism was demonstrated while she volunteered with the MCMC Auxiliary. She taught each of her children to be independent and encouraged them to be kind and compassionate. She lived by the Golden Rule “do unto others as you would have them do unto you”. She had a quick wit and could easily make her children laugh. She enjoyed traveling with TJ and they made many short and long trips around the country in their retirement years. She was loved dearly in life and will be missed by those surviving her.

Preceding her in death, were her husband TJ, her brother Tom, her sons-in-law Jimmy and Jerry. Each of whom was standing ready to welcome her to her new home in heaven with our Lord and Father Jesus Christ.

Visitation at Yaksich-Long Funeral Home Sunday, August 20, 2017, 6pm to 8pm. Funeral Services will be on Monday, August 21, 2017 at St. Patrick’s St. Joseph’s- Catholic Church in Raton, NM. Rosary, recited by Mike Vigil of the Knights of Columbus, at 10:00am, with Funeral Mass celebrated by Father John Trambley to follow. Following internment at Mt. Calvary Cemetery there will be a reception at the Church hall.

In lieu of flowers please send donations to the St. Vincent De Paul Charities at http://stpatrickstjoseph.weconnect.com/St–Vincent-de-Paul-Charities; and/or the Knights of Columbus c/o Grand Knight Richard Maddaleni, 1209 Nelson Rd., Raton, NM 8. If any further information is needed please contact Shawn Johnson at (575) 447-9140.

Arrangements and celebration of love for Sarah Ann Johnson are under the direction of the Yaksich-Long Funeral Home of Raton.