KISER, Vivian Mignon (Peggy)

The White Mountain Independent, Show Low, Arizona ~ 06/09/2006 Vivian Mignon "Peggy" Dismore Johnson-Kiser, 95, left this earthly home Tuesday, June 6, 2006 in Mesa. She was born in Hobart, Okla. May 11, 1911. She and her family moved to Phoenix in the late '30s, where they owned and operated a neighborhood grocery store for several years. Her first husband, Fred Wyatt Johnson, father of her two children, died in 1962. Her second husband, Earl Tracy Kiser, passed away in 1973. As matriarch of five generations of the Johnson and Dismore families, she was the primary reason the traditional values of morality and ethics were passed on through the new generations, beginning with her son Fred Johnson of Lakeside and her daughter Barbara Zachariae of Young. The family traditions and culture continue intact with her six grandchildren: Steve Johnson and Eric Johnson of Lakeside, Cheryl Johnson Carden of Honanau, Hawaii, David Zachariae of Buckeye, Sara Zachariae Routhier of Taylor and Marla Zachariae Knickrehm of Young. She is also survived by 14 great-grandchildren and three great-great-grandchildren. Peggy, as most people knew her, and Earl were among the first permanent residents at Haigler Creek. Earl had loved and lived in the Christopher Creek-Pleasant Valley area since the '20s. When he retired in 1962, they chose Haigler Creek as their home. Vivian was very interested in community work, and along with Patsy Smith, started the first library in Young. Her home at Haigler Creek was the show place of the area with her prize-winning flowers and vegetable garden. She won many blue and purple ribbons for her gardening and culinary skills at the Gila County Fair in Young. She was also very successful in real estate sales, and helped develop and sell the Haigler Creek Estates. Services will be held at the LDS Church at 1 p.m. Saturday, June 10 in Young, where she will be laid to rest by the side of her husband, Earl Kiser, in the Young Cemetery. Viewing will be held prior to the service.