Avis Marie Johnson

OXFORD -- Avis Marie Johnson, 71, died Friday (Nov. 22, 2002) from injuries sustained in a motor vehicle accident.

She was born Feb. 7, 1931, to Marvin and Inez (Severns) Taylor on a farm near Almena, Kan. She attended grade school first at Cedar School near Almena and then in Norton, Kan., and finally, moving with her family from Norton to Oxford, graduating from the eighth grade from Buffalo District 17. She graduated from Oxford Community Schools with the Class of 1949. She then attended Kearney State Teacher's College and began her teaching career at Buffalo District 17. She also taught at New Era and Carter schools.

On Nov. 6, 1953, she married Lloyd Eugene Johnson. They made their home northeast of Oxford where they farmed, ranched and raised turkeys. In 1984, they moved to his parent's home. After her husband's death in 1990, she returned to Kearney State College where she renewed her teaching credentials and achieved her lifelong dream of earning a bachelor's degree in education, with K-12 endorsements. She was a substitute teacher in numerous area schools until the time of her death.

She was a member of St. John's Lutheran Church in Oxford, where she taught Sunday School, Vacation Bible School and Confirmation classes. She also participated in Ladies' Aid, Joy Circle, Altar Guild, Lutheran Women's Ministerial League, Aid Association for Lutherans, the Walter League, American Legion Auxiliary, Veterans of Foreign Wars Auxiliary, Mrs. Jaycees and the Oxford Cardinal and Southern Valley Eagle Booster Clubs.

She was preceded in death by her father, Marvin Taylor; husband, Lloyd Johnson; mother-in-law, Albertina Johnson; father-in-law, Frank Johnson; brother, Walter Taylor; and step-father, Everett Taylor.

Survivors include her son, Rex Johnson and wife, Julie of Omaha; mother, Inez Taylor of Oxford; brother, Herb Taylor and wife, Susan of Nashville, Tenn.; five sisters, Dixie and husband, Lee Green of Funk, Judy Tadlock of Oxford, Zona and husband, Ron Fritz of McCook, Gloria Egge of Shelton and Nancy Fry of Grand Island; sister-in-law, Anita Taylor of Fairfax, Va.; brother-in-law, LeRoy Johnson and wife, Patty of Oxford; and four grandchildren.

Funeral services will be Tuesday, 10:30 a.m., at St. John's Lutheran Church in Oxford with the Rev. George Naylor officiating. Interment will be at the Oxford Cemetery.

Visitation will be today until 8 p.m., at Mitchell-Nelson Funeral Home in Oxford. The casket will remain closed.

A memorial has been established in her memory.

The Mitchell-Nelson Funeral Home in Oxford is in charge of arrangements.