Johnson, Juanita Mae

Juanita “Nita” Mae Johnson, 93, of Effingham, passed away at 9:15 p.m. Monday, May 7, 2012 at St. Anthony’s Memorial Hospital, Effingham, IL, following a brief illness.

Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Friday, May 11, 2012 at the Greenview United Presbyterian Church, Greenview, IL, with the Rev. Stephanie McCullough and Rev. Drew Holloway officiating. Burial will follow in Elmwood Cemetery, Greenview, IL. Johnson Funeral Home, Effingham, and Mott & Henning Funeral Home, Athens, are handling the arrangements.

Memorials may be made to the Greenview United Presbyterian Church, P.O. Box 378, Greenview, IL or the First Presbyterian Church, 600 Temple Avenue, Effingham, IL. Online condolences may be left at www.johnsonandsonsfh.com or chrismac:8888/mott/

Nita was born on January 20, 1919 in Ashland, IL, the daughter of Wilbur and Cora (Gorham) Moore. She was the fourth of their five children. She graduated from Ashland Community High School number 1 in her class of 1937.

She graduated from Illinois State University with a 2 year Teaching Certificate in 1939. Her teaching career began with teaching the 1st grade in Ashland from 1939 through 1950. She taught 1st grade in Virginia, IL in 1950 and 1951.

Nita married James E. Johnson on August 24, 1951 at West Side Christian Church, Springfield, IL by the Rev. Charles W. Ridlen, honeymooning at the Lake of the Ozarks.He preceded her in death on July 4, 1995.

They moved to Greenview, IL, in November 1955 to begin her 26-year teaching career. She received her Bachelor of Science Degree from Illinois State University in 1966. After retiring in 1982 at the age of 63 with 43 years of teaching she began substituting in Greenview and Petersburg for several more years. She was a lifetime member of National Education Association and a member of the Retired Teachers of Illinois.

She had been an active member of the Greenview United Presbyterian Church, Greenview. She was a Sunday school teacher, active member of the Women’s Fellowship, and the Sunday school treasurer for over 25 years. She was also a volunteer teacher for the State of Illinois Rules of the Road. She was an avid bridge player, enjoyed going to movies, and spending time with family and good friends. She relocated from Greenview to Effingham in 2008.

Nita is survived by her son J. Michael (Karla) Johnson of Effingham; granddaughters, Amy (Dave) Zerrusen of Teutopolis, and Meredith (Jon) Fulton of Effingham; great-grandsons, Blake, Grant, Derrick, and Shawn; sister-in-law, Mrs.William Paul (Anna May) Moore of Hillsboro; and several nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, James; brothers, Joseph Moore, Earl Moore, William Paul Moore; and sister, Joyce Frantz.