Mary L. Cochonour Johnson, 101, of Casey, IL, passed away on Saturday, October 12, 2013 at Heartland Nursing Center, Casey, IL. Mary was born May 12, 1912 in Chillicothe, Ohio, the daughter of Robert Owen Cochonour and Louise Ratcliff Cochonour.
At the age of 3, Mary and her family moved to a farm in Casey, IL. Mary was a lifelong resident of Casey, IL. She was a 1929 Casey High School graduate and graduated from Indiana State University with a B.S. degree in Health and Physical Education in 1933. She returned to Casey to teach biology and P.E. until 1941. On June 8, 1941, she married Dr. Howard G. Johnson in Casey, IL. He passed away on October 17, 1998. Mary worked as a Lab Technician for Danville Lakeview Hospital while her husband served in the US Air Force in England, Africa and Italy from 1942 to 1944. After returning from World War II, Howard and Mary were stationed in Texas and California, where their first son, Jim was born before returning to Casey. Mary became a housewife, part-time bookkeeper and raised their sons, Jim and Kent, who was born in 1954. In 1960 the Johnson family hosted Casey’s first ever foreign exchange student, Tim Oribe, who still visits regularly. They also became the host family for other Japanese visitors including Sayuri Muromachi. Mary became very devoted to many organizations and received many rewards. She was the oldest living lifetime member of the Casey United Methodist Church where she had previously served as President of the Methodist Women’s Society. She was a charter member and past president of the Casey Woman’s Club. Mary was voted Casey Chamber of Commerce Citizen of the Year in 1980. She received the CHS Outstanding Alumni Award in 1986 and East Central Illinois Area on Aging volunteer award in 1999. Mary was a member of the Clark County Retired Teachers Association and the Casey Airport Boosters. She participated in many volunteer activities including Tote a Meal, regular nursing home visits, FISH, and other numerous church and community related events. Mary was a Cub Scout Den Mother and supported her sons in their scouting experiences. Mary loved to travel and visited Europe, Japan, Alaska, Canada, Mexico, New Zealand, and Australia. She had an avid interest in helping and serving others and devoted her life to service. She greatly enjoyed family outings, picnics, and gatherings.
Survivors include her sons, Dr. James Johnson and wife, Eva Bear, of Athens, OH, and Kent Johnson of Casey, IL; grandson, Dr. Joshua Bear of San Francisco, CA; granddaughters, Mir Bear-Johnson of New Orleans, LA, and Lorana Johnson McCall and husband, Dustin, of Charleston, IL; great-grandson, Jed McCall of Charleston, IL, and a number of nieces, nephews, great nieces and great nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents, husband, Dr. Howard G. Johnson, and brother and sister in law, Clark and Ruth Cochonour.
Funeral services will be conducted at 11 a.m. on Tuesday, October 15, 2013, at the Casey United Methodist Church with the Rev. Dr. Penelope Barber officiating. Burial will follow in the Casey Cumberland Cemetery, Casey, IL. Visitation will be held from 10 to 11 a.m. prior to the service on Tuesday morning at the Casey United Methodist Church, 703 N. State Hwy. 49, Casey, IL.
Memorial donations may be made to the Casey United Methodist Church, PO Box 365, Casey, IL 62420 or Heartland Nursing Center, PO Box 10, Casey, IL 62420.
To view the full obituary, send a condolence message, light a candle or post photos, visit www.markwellfuneralhome.com. Markwell Funeral Home of Casey, IL is in charge of the arrangements.

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