Johnson, Mary Elizabeth

Mary Elizabeth Johnson, 93, of Sabula, Iowa, died Tuesday, May 15, 2012, at The Alverno Nursing Center, Clinton. A funeral mass will be held at 1 p.m. Saturday, May 19, at St. Joseph Catholic Church, Preston. Burial will take place in St. Peter's Catholic Cemetery, Sabula. A visitation will be held from 4 to 7:30 p.m. Friday at the church, with a Scripture wake service held at 7:30 p.m.

Mary was born Nov. 29, 1918, the daughter of Jacob and Libbie (Simmons) Gollobit, in Preston, Iowa. She married Ambrose Ottaway on April 15, 1937. Ambrose died March 12, 1945. Mary was later united in marriage to Ray L. Johnson on Feb. 15, 1947. Ray died April 6, 1994.

Mary was a homemaker who cherished taking care of her large family. She worked as a clerk at Carp Rathje's Grocery Store and for eight years at the Sabula Speaker Factory.

Mary was a member of St. Peter's Catholic Church, where she was a past member of the Alter and Rosary Society. She was also a member of the Sabula Senior Citizens.

Mary enjoyed her flowers and was a wonderful cook. She also enjoyed traveling, sewing and playing cards. Most of all, Mary loved spending time with her family and friends.

Mary will be dearly missed by her nine children, Ronald (LaWanna) Ottaway of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, Jerry (Shirley) Ottaway of Marion, Iowa, Charlotte (Robert) Trpkosh of Plano, Texas, Joyce Waller of McKinney, Texas, Carol (Phillip) Allen of Bellevue, Iowa, Mary (Donald) Bees of Clinton, Iowa, Bette (Donald) Holub of Prairieburg, Iowa, Linda (Mark) Holman of Marshalltown, Iowa and Ray (Chris) Johnson, Jr. of Preston, Iowa; 31 grandchildren, 67 great-grandchildren; nine great-great-grandchildren; one sister, Alta Russell of Aledo, Ill.; one daughter-in-law, DeAnne Ottaway of Tesuque, N.M.; and numerous nieces and nephews.

Mary was preceded in death by two husbands; one son, Loren Ottaway; one son in-law, Donald Waller; one granddaughter, Amanda Bees; three great grandchildren, Sara Ottaway, Aaron Mendenhall and Jeremy Ketelsen; and six siblings, Edward, Virtus, Evelyn Smith, Lawrence, Carlett and Charlotte Gollobit.

In lieu of flowers, a memorial fund has been established in Mary's memory.

Online condolences may be left for the family at www.lawjonesfuneralhome.com.

Published May 18, 2012 in The Gazette