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Shirley Lavern Holycross Johnson, 81, of Sidney, passed away at 12:58 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 30, 2017, at Versailles Health Care Center in Versailles.
Born Sept. 14, 1936, in North Lewisburg, she was the daughter of the late Isaac and Jennie Reames Holycross. On July 8, 1952, she married Richard C. “Dick” Johnson, in Winchester, Ind. He preceded her in death on Sept. 26, 2004, after 52 years of marriage.
The fourth youngest of 13 Holycross children, she grew up in Middleburg.
Mrs. Johnson was retired from Lehman High School in Sidney, where she was a cook for a quarter century. She was also a cashier and cash office coordinator for the former Cain’s IGA on North Main Street. During the 1960s, she was a cook at St. Patrick’s School in Bellefontaine.
An avid baker, she was renowned throughout the area for her beautifully lavish wedding and birthday cakes, but was especially known for her cookies. She was a leader of the Harmony Homemakers 4-H Club for 15 years in Shelby County, passing along her love of cooking and baking to hundreds of youths over the years.
As a true fan of Irish singer Daniel O’Donnell, she collected nearly every recording he produced, saw him in concert and passed away peacefully while listening to his rendition of Amazing Grace.
Perhaps her truest passion in life was her family — her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren, whom she cherished, loved and protected up to her final days.
She is survived by three daughters and sons-in-law, Sheryl and Kenneth Hatfield of Quincy, Peggy and Paul Tune and Kathy and Tony Keith, all of Sidney; one son and daughter-in-law, R. Michael and Beth Johnson of Sidney; eight grandchildren, Jacob Hatfield of Jackson Center, Shaun Hatfield of Maplewood, Joy Hall, Ben Naseman and David Johnson, all of Sidney, Megan Naseman of Berea, Ky., and Missy Naseman-Rivera and Jennie Bertke, both of Anna; five step-grandchildren, Brittany Saylor of Warsaw, Heather Cervantes of Wapakoneta, Brian Keith of Columbus and Martin Tune and Julia Tune, both of Great Britain; 11 great-grandchildren, Jaiden Hatfield, Haley Hatfield, Sommer Hatfield, Chase Hall, Wyatt Hall, Lacey Naseman, Addilyn Naseman, Ava Bertke, Rick Bertke, Rachel Johnson and Ari Stoebel; three step-great-grandchildren, Victor, Alex and Marlie Cervantes; three brothers and two sisters-in-law, Donald and Joan Holycross, Carroll Holycross and Darrell and Pat Holycross, all of Bellefontaine; two sisters and one brother-in-law, Tempa and Delmar Cox of West Liberty and Ruth Ann Wooddell of DeGraff; two sisters-in-law, Lois Holycross of Bellefontaine and Jackie Holycross of Amarillo, Texas; one brother-in-law, Harlan Jackson of Marysville; and hundreds of nieces and nephews throughout the area.
Along with her husband and parents, she was preceded in death by one great-grandson, Christopher J. Johnson; three brothers, Charles Holycross, Raymond Holycross and Aaron Holycross; four sisters, Agnes Murray, Betty Black, Alice Davis and Mary Lou McCoy; three sisters-in-law, Ruth Holycross, Sally Holycross and Sandy Jackson; five brothers-in-law, Vere Murray, Herb Black, Lester Wooddell, Maurice Davis and William Johnson; and several nieces and nephews.
Funeral services are at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, Oct. 4, at the Cromes-Edwards Funeral Home in Sidney, with D. Michael Barhorst, R. Michael Johnson and Rick Jutte officiating. Interment followz at Graceland Cemetery in Sidney.
Calling is from 4 to 7 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 3, and one hour prior to services on Wednesday at the funeral home.
The family requests memorial contributions be made to Lehman High School, or a charity of the donor’s choice. Envelopes will be available at the funeral home.
Online condolences may be expressed at www.cromesfh.com