Obituary of Mary Johnson

Mary L. Johnson, nee Rongey, 84, of Swansea, IL, born July 15, 1929, in St. Louis, MO, died Tuesday, February 18, 2014, at Mar-Ka Community Care Center, Mascoutah, IL. Mrs. Johnson retired as a school psychologist from Belleville School District 118. She had served as principal of Franklin Grade School in Belleville. She was a member of the Southern Illinois Psychological Association and the Illinois Psychological Association and had served as a board member for the YMCA of Southwest Illinois. Mary was a member of St. Matthew United Methodist Church, Belleville, IL, where she was a member of the Bible Boomers Sunday School class and worked in the wardrobe/costume department for the church cantatas. She was a past president of the Ravenel Homeowners Association and an avid bridge player. Mary was preceded in death by her husband, Earl Maurice Johnson, whom she had married in October 1949; her parents, Elmer and Amelia, nee Grindstaff, Rongey; a brother, Charles Rongey; her father-in-law and mother-in-law, James Victor and Lela Johnson; a sister-in-law, Verna Rongey; and a brother-in-law, Doniphan Hilliard. Surviving are two daughters, Rhonda (Alan) Knobeloch and Deborah (Michael) Voellinger, both of Belleville, IL; a son, James (Kim) Johnson of Highland, IL; seven grandchildren, James (Sarah) Williams, Cory (Katie) Smith, Jen (Willie) Karius, Joshua Johnson, Samantha Johnson (fiancé, Jacob Blaylock), Jesse Johnson, and Abigail Johnson; six great-grandchildren, Emma, Lucy, and Gracie Williams, Laney Smith, and Tessa and Will Karius; three sisters, Louise (Mel) Grieger of Indiana, Ruthie (Charles) Evans of Missouri, and Margaret Reeves of Florida; a brother, Harold Rongey of California; a sister-in-law, Mary Frances (L.D.) Baurichter; a brother-in-law, Charles (Bonnie) Johnson; and nieces and nephews. Memorials may be made to the Franklin Neighborhood Association, to the Arthritis Foundation, or to St. Matthew United Methodist Church. Condolences may be expressed to the family online at www.rennerfh.com. Visitation: Friends may call from 4 to 8 p.m. Sunday, February 23, 2014, at George Renner & Sons Funeral Home, Belleville, IL, and from 1:30 to 3 p.m. Monday, February 24, 2014, at Edwards Funeral Home, Doniphan, MO. Funeral: Funeral services will be held at 3 p.m. Monday, at the funeral home, with burial in Doniphan, MO.