Johnson, Mary Kelly

Mary Kelly Johnson, 78, of Cedar Rapids, died Sunday, June 9, 2013, in The Woodlands at The Meth-Wick Community in Cedar Rapids. The visitation will be 9 a.m. Friday June 14, followed by a Celebration of Life service at Cedar Memorial Park Chapel of Memories at 10 a.m. Interment following the service at Cedar Memorial Park Cemetery. Pastor Steve Knudson of First Lutheran Church will officiate.

She is survived by her husband, David Johnson of Cedar Rapids; her son, Neil Johnson and wife Theresa, and grandsons, Malcolm and Nathan, of Swisher; her daughter, Heather Hazlett and husband Steve, and grandsons, Ian and Jacob, of Cedar Rapids; a brother, James Nixon and wife Mary of Crieff, Scotland; and many nieces and nephews also living in Scotland.

She was preceded in death by parents, Joseph and Christian Nixon; and brothers, Malcolm and Andrew, all in Scotland.

Mary was born Aug. 11, 1934, in Muthill, Scotland, the daughter of Joseph and Christian (Connel) Nixon. She completed her education as a registered nurse at Hairmyres Hospital outside of Glasgow. She immigrated to the United States in 1959 to spend one year as a nanny in Hinsdale, Ill. She met David Johnson and they were married July 15, 1961, at Dave's church, Bethesda Lutheran, in Ames, Iowa. Over the years Mary and Dave lived in Illinois, Colorado, Missouri and Iowa. Mary became a naturalized citizen of the United States on Oct. 14, 1965, in Sioux City, Iowa.

Mary worked for Encyclopaedia Britannica in Chicago for a brief time and devoted her life to her husband, her two children and four grandsons. Mary took advantage of many opportunities to serve, helping at her children's schools and church where she taught Sunday school and served as a Stephen Minister. She always put her family first. Mary enjoyed getting to know the people and regions of the United States while she and Dave lived in various places and traveled with their children. They visited Scotland several times where they enjoyed her family. Mary loved to read, keep up on the local and national news, do crossword puzzles, watch the bird feeding outside the window, bowling and walking her dog, Brandy.

Please leave a message for the family on the Web page www.cedarmemorial.com under obituaries.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to St. Luke's Health Care Foundation for the benefit of the Child Protection Center at St. Luke's Hospital.

Published June 12, 2013 in The Gazette