Ethel Irene Johnson

Ethel Irene (Searcy) Johnson
May 3, 1920 – January 13, 2012

Ethel Irene Johnson, 91, of Hartville, Missouri passed away Friday, January 13, 2012.

Services will be Friday, January 20, 2012 at 10:00 AM in the Bailes-Polk Funeral Home with Reverend Randy Southerland officiating. Interment will be at Claud Cemetery northeast of Velma immediately following the service under the direction of the Bailes-Polk Funeral Home.

The family will recive friends for visitation at the funeralhome from 6-8 PM on Thursday.

Irene was born May 3, 1920 in Dierks, Arkansas, the daughter of Oscar and Sarah Searcy. Her family moved to Oklahoma (which she always called home) when she was a young girl. She and Benjamin Hawkins Johnson were married August 22, 1940 near Velma; he preceded her in death October 5, 1997. Irene worked for many years at the Moncrief and Bishop Nursing Homes and the sewing factory in Comanche. She attended Countryside Baptist Church when they lived southeast of Comanche, Fair Baptist Church after moving to the Empire area, and Odin Community Church in Missouri. Irene was a spectacular seamstress and quilter; she enjoyed vegetable and flower gardening, crafts, home-style cooking and canning, crossword puzzles, and especially her beloved dachshund dogs “Lady, Peanut, and Tiny.” She also loved to travel and quickly accepted the chance to go anywhere with family and friends. Irene worked hard and generously gave to others; friends and family were always asked to stay for dinner when they visited. Many children, other than her own, called her “Grandma” through the years; all regarded her as a friend.

Survivors include two sons, Ray Johnson, Mansfield, MO, and Tommy Johnson, Climax Springs, MO; two daughters, Kay Wieden and husband Jack, Seymour, MO, and Janice Pecora and husband Randy, St. Francisville, LA; eight grandchildren, Gina Johnson, Waylan Johnson, Eric Wieden, Craig Wieden , Jeff Moser, Ben Pecora, Lance Johnson, and Jeremey Johnson; 15 great-grandchildren, Brittney, Kendra, Daniel and Eric Wieden, Wain and Liam Moser, Marie, Luke, Theophania, and Sarah Johnson, Brook, Clara and Riley Wieden, Aubrey and Eli Johnson, and two great-great-grandchildren, Trenton and Mycheal Wieden; three nephews, Royce Searcy, Phillip Searcy, and Crillion Searcy; former daughter-in-law Kristi Woods, and family friend Ruth Smith; and additional nieces and nephews in California, Oklahoma, and New Mexico.

She was preceded in death by her husband of 57 years Ben, her parents, two brothers Alan Searcy and Thomas Searcy, a sister Victoria Harris, and daughter-in-law Janettie Johnson.

Pallbearers will be her grandsons.

Online condolences may be made at www.bailespolkfuneralhome.com .

Her soul has gone to heaven with God, her body has come home to Oklahoma, but her love and memories will forever be engraved in our hearts.