Mary Abbott Johnson
Mary Abbott Johnson began her mortal life with little fanfare on March 17, 1926. She slipped away in the same manner on January 14, 2021. This lack of fanfare belies the joy-filled life she lived. She was born in Mesquite, Nevada, one of 11 children of George Nathan Abbott and Rosa Leonora Gardner. She was born on her father’s 32nd birthday, and outlived all but two of her siblings.
Her first 16 years were lived in the dusty town of Bunkerville, Nevada at a time when most of the town’s population was one generation removed from the Utah pioneers. It was there, when a young child, that she almost succumbed to osteomyelitis and, then, eventually recovered from the surgery required to remove the infection from the bone. After spending years on crutches, only a scar on her leg was left to tell that story.
She moved with her family to Nampa, Idaho when she was 17 years old. There she met E True Johnson, a soldier home from WWII. They were wed on December 20, 1945. They were sealed in the St. George, Utah temple on December 22, 1956. From this happy marriage of 70 years came seven children. Added later were six in-laws, 38 grandchildren, 121 great grandchildren and 9 great great-grandchildren.
Mary considered family her crowning glory and loved every stage as her family grew and expanded. She was a master of all the domestic arts and loved to plan and cater major family gatherings.
Mary loved music and performed innumerable times, beginning in her childhood, and later, as a star in high school musicals, a soloist in community oratorios, church meetings, and funerals.
She taught countless students in the art of playing the piano. With a close friend, Alberta O’Brien, she founded the first musical preschool in Roswell, New Mexico.
Mary cherished her membership in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. She served wherever military life took her family by enriching the lives of those she served in her church and community as she accepted the many assignments she was given to teach, organize, lead, and comfort.
Mary attended Weber State College and received her Bachelor’s degree in English Literature followed by post graduate studies at the University of Utah.
She took great pride in her rich pioneer heritage. She was an active member of the International Society of the Daughters of the Utah Pioneers for many years, ultimately serving ten years as the International President, traveling throughout the world as its ambassador and leader.
Mary is survived by her children: Trudy (Henry) Bradford, Teresa Draper, James (Susan), Janice, Robert (Etsuko), Stephen (Bonnie) and David (Stephanie); her grandchildren; great- grandchildren; great-great grandchildren; and two brothers: Richard Abbott and Myron Abbott. She was preceded in death by her beloved husband, True Johnson; a son-in-law, Duane Draper; and a great-granddaughter, Anna Nelson.
The family expresses their gratitude to the dedicated and kind caregivers at Fairfield Village of Layton, Parkview Memory Care and Encompass Hospice Care.
2 thoughts on “OBITUARY: Mary Abbott Johnson”
We all loved Mary in the St. George 10th Ward. Joyce Marcusen and I were Mary’s Visiting Teachers for all the time she lived on The Ridge in St. George. To know Mary was to love her. She was an inspiration to us all in her faithfulness to the Gospel of Jesus Christ. The angels will be singing when she arrives home to her E.T.
We send our love and best wishes to her family at this time of mourning and grief. It will only be for a short while because her memory is such a happy one.
I have wondered oner and over iuf Mary was still with us on earth. I decided to check obituaries to see. It took a few times to find he. Ifinally used her husbands name and that helped. I sad to think a year has gone by and I just learned of her passing. I was her St. George hairdresser. I evjoyed her stories about Hairdressing and teaching.