JOHNSON, LuWanna M.

The White Mountain Independent, Show Low, Arizona ~ 07/06/2010 LuWanna M. Johnson, 78, of Lakeside died Friday, June 11, 2010 at her daughter's home near Captain Cook, Hawaii. She was born May 12, 1932, in Glenn's Ferry, Idaho to Bill and Maudie Kinkade. LuWanna married Fred Johnson in 1952. She was a "stay at home mom" until 1965 when she returned to school to earn a Master's Degree, with higher distinction from Arizona State University. While in college she served in leadership roles in Kappa Delta Pi and in early childhood education. When she graduated, there was a surplus of teachers but because of her grades and recommendations she had three principals competing for her services. She chose Broadmor Elementary, just off the ASU campus, where she taught fourth and fifth grades for 17 years. She was commended for being a very effective, innovative and popular teacher. Her interests were many and varied-many of which she shared with her husband. Both being teachers, they had time to travel by RV from southern Mexico to Alaska including 49 of the 50 states. During 35 years of RVing, she saw almost all the natural wonders, historic and prehistoric sites North America plus parts of Western Europe. Other things she enjoyed included art, which was her college minor, writing poetry, reading, sewing, quilting, calligraphy, archaeology, hiking, cooking and baking. With her sister-in-law Barbara Zachariae, she coauthored two craft books about safety pin jewelry. Together they marketed jewelry kits through the Good Housekeeping magazine. She is survived by her husband of 58 years, Fred Johnson; sons Steve and Eric Johnson of Lakeside; daughter Cheryl Carden of Captain Cook, Hawaii; seven grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. Also surviving are her sister Laura Fuller of Hawthorn, Nev. and cousin, Donna Carnahan of Glenn's Ferry, Idaho who was loved as a sister. In Arizona, she was active with the Boy Scouts of America, the Arizona Archaeological Society, the Salt River Gadabout Sam's RV Club and a number of arts and craft clubs. In Hawaii, she took hula lessons, joined the Ocean View Senior Club, volunteered for the National Energy Laboratory and the Big Island Iron Man competition. She attended St. Jude's Episcopal Church in Ocean View where her memorial service was held June 21. All who knew her will remember her as a beautiful, gentle, loving and compassionate woman of many talents. A mutual attraction between her and children was one of her most outstanding characteristics. When she enters Heaven she will still be clutching the baby doll she was holding on her breast at the time of her death.