Anna Marie (May) Johnston, 82, a resident of Grove, Okla., passed peacefully into the loving arms of the Lord on Jan. 31, 2011, at Grove Nursing Center.
Anna was born Oct. 12, 1928, in Topeka, to Fredrick May and Eva (Feil) May Helmer.
Anna married Walter E. Johnston on Oct. 19, 1946, in Salina.
She attended business college while working part time at St. John’s Military Academy in Salina. She later worked as a legal secretary for Branine, Ice, Flynn & Brown in Newton.
After moving with Walt to Redfield, Anna worked for Farm Company and Agricultural Engineering in Uniontown.
For several years, Anna owned Herbal Discoveries Inc., through which she sold Nature’s Sunshine products. During this time, Anna also served as church secretary for churches in Uniontown, Redfield, and Hiattville. She was the organist for the Uniontown Methodist Church for 24 years.
Anna loved to play the organ and make banners from cloth. One of Anna’s cloth banners, made for the First United Methodist Church Men’s Club, won first place at Purdue University and was displayed in the Upper Room in Nashville, Tenn., for six months. Another banner made by Anna for the Kansas East Conference was selected to be displayed at the Lake Placid Olympic Winter Games.
Anna also loved to present religious chalk drawings to music, especially when her daughter Nancy played accompaniment on the piano.
Anna was preceded in death by her parents; brothers Alex, David, and Frances; and her sister, Kathleen Kay.
Survivors include her love of 64 years, Walter Eugene Johnston; brother Harvey May and wife Erna of Troy, Va.; son Keith Johnston and wife Debra of McPherson; daughter Nancy Potter and husband Bob of Grove. Anna’s grandchildren are Kurtis Johnston and wife Angie of Shawnee, Kyle Johnston and wife Lisa of Overland Park, and the Rev. Steven Broers and wife Kristy of Fontanelle, Iowa. Step-grandchildren are Regan Cameron and husband John of Osceola, Mo., and Chelsea Payne and husband Kevin of Moundridge. Great-grandchildren are Kole Robert and Kaleigh Marie Johnston, Sophia Irene, Malachi Steven and Micah Emmanuel Broers, Chaz Richard and Tanner Ray Epperson, and Reanna LaVonne and Ruger Westin Cameron. She was also survived by nephew Dave May of Wichita and niece Sandy May of Las Vegas, Nev., whom Anna raised as her own after their parents died. In addition, Anna leaves a host of other nieces and nephews as well as many dear friends.
Visitation will be 6 to 8 tonight at the Worley-Luginbuel Funeral Home in Grove.
Funeral services will be at 1 p.m. Thursday at First United Methodist Church in Grove, with the Rev. Randy Hamill officiating.
Interment will be noon Friday at Marion Cemetery. Anna’s grandson, the Rev. Steven Broers, will officiate at the graveside service.
All arrangements are under the direction of the Worley-Luginbuel Funeral Home in Grove, Okla.
Friends and family may leave online condolences at http://www.honoringmemories.com.