CANTRELL, Johnnie M.

The White Mountain Independent, Show Low, Arizona ~ September 24, 2007 Johnnie M. Cantrell, 88, died Aug. 21, 2007, in Mesa from complications after surgery for a broken hip. She was born in Loving, Texas, March 3, 1919, to Russ Strong Vance and Nancy Catherine Ray. She married Marcellus (Moss) Cantrell Oct. 18, 1939. They lived in Graham, Texas, until Moss returned from the service, then moved to Roswell, N.M., in 1961 and then to Mesa. The couple visited Show Low on weekends. After Moss' death in 1968 she moved to Show Low until her passing. She never worked until the death of her husband, when she went to work at Nick's Market in the bakery department for Bud and Wanda Willis. She also worked at the Show Low school cafeteria and later at Navapache Regional Medical Center (now Summit Healthcare) in the cafeteria until she retired. She moved to Lakeside before her passing, where she loved to work outside in the summer with her flower gardens and also tended to her houseplants. She kept herself busy with all kinds of crafts and did lots of sewing. She loved making crafts for girls, family and friends and craft shows. Her talent will be missed by all who knew and loved her. Johnnie was preceded in death by her loving husband, Moss Cantrell; her son, Bill Cantrell of N.M.; two sisters, Lizzie Lindley of Texas and Clara Jobe of Arkansas; her parents, Russ ("Daddy Russ") and Nancy Vander of Loving, Texas. She is survived by her son, Deryl, and his wife, Cena Cantrell, of Show Low; four grandchildren, Treva and Clayton Crull, Marcy and David Armstrong of Mesa and Randal (Randy Jack) and William (Biffer) Cantrell; eight great-grandchildren, Hailey Hunter Crull, Cody and Casey Brauer, Ciciarca and Clay Armstrong of Mesa, Nora and Nylah Cantrell. She is also survived by one sister-in-law, Opal of Graham, Texas, and a niece, Marlene and her husband, Tommy Edway; several great-nephews in Texas; cousins Katie and Floyd Killiman of Welton; seven great-cousins in Welton and Wickenburg; and seven nephews and nieces of Arkansas and Texas. She was greatly loved by all who knew her and will be missed by all who loved her. She was laid to rest Aug. 30 in Graham, Texas, beside her loving husband, Moss.