EDNA JOHNSON

Wasilla resident Edna Margaret Johnson, 84, died Sept. 3, 2008 of natural causes at her residence.

 A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 14, at Wasilla Bible Church at 1651 West Nicola Ave. with Pastor Jim Eller presiding. She will be interred at Fort Richardson National Cemetery in Anchorage next to her husband.

 Johnson was born Feb. 26, 1923 in Ridgefield, N.J. She was a wife and homemaker.

 She was a resident of Homer from 1969 to 1970 before moving to Wasilla.

 Johnson taught Sunday school for many years and was active in women’s ministries at Valley Baptist Tabernacle, First Baptist Church and Wasilla Bible Church, which she attended.

 Johnson loved singing and giving “Chalk Talk” stories in church. She was also a skilled seamstress with four years of sewing and tailoring experience at New York Girls Commercial High School.

 Her family said: “Mom shared the love of God with everyone she encountered. Her joyous spirit inspired and encouraged family and friends throughout her life. Mom was always interested and supportive of what each of us was doing and listened intently to everything we had to tell her.

“She exhibited a quick wit and a delightful sense of humor that brought great joy to all of us. The focus of Mom’s life was to share her love of Jesus Christ and to be sure each member of her family came to know Him personally. It was a job well done. We have been greatly influenced by the life of an amazing, Godly woman and ‘prayer warrior.’ We are eternally grateful that God gave her to us.”

 She was preceded in death by her husband of 65 years, Perry Johnson; sister Claire Evans and brothers Kenneth and Harold Clisset.

 She is survived by her daughters Nancy Johnson-Lynch of Tumwater, Wash., and Joyce McPherson of Ellensburg, Wash.; sons Kirk Johnson of Klamath Falls, Ore., Kevin and Todd Johnson of Wasilla; 16 grandchildren; 10 great-grandchildren and several foster children.