Everett Ray Johnson

Burial with Military Rites provided by J.F. Hardin Post #164 American Legion, Bedford, Iowa, will be at the Maple Grove Cemetery.
Memorials may be directed to the Maple Grove United Methodist Church and/or the Maple Grove Cemetery.
Everett Ray Johnson, son of Leslie and Ester (Lundquist) Johnson was born in New Market, Iowa on Wednesday, January 24, 1923. Ray entered eternal rest on Thursday, April 23, 2009 at Alegent Health Mercy Hospital in Corning, Iowa at the age of eighty-six years, two months and thirty days.
After graduating New Market High School, Ray started his life long passion for farming. Ray proudly served his country in the Army during WWII where he was awarded the European-African-Middle Eastern Theater Service Medal, Good Conduct Medal and the Army of Occupational Medal for his campaigns in Central Europe. Ray was honorably discharged on July 10, 1946. Ray returned to farming and farmed until retiring at the age of 79 years, due to ill health.
Rays first wife, Katherine (Garten) Johnson, passed away in 1958, shortly after the birth of their daughter. Ray was married to Mary “Rose” (Spencer) Johnson in Mt. Ayr, Iowa in 1965. Together, the couple raised their four children: Randy, Rodney, Cindy and Richard and enjoyed their life on the farm. Ray cherished his wife, children and his relationships with his friends. He treasured his grandchildren and his horses.
Ray was a fifty year member of the American Legion in Gravity and the Maple Grove United Methodist Church in Guss.
Left to cherish Rays memory is his wife, Mary Johnson of Corning, Iowa; sons: Randy (wife Cindy) Johnson and Rodney (wife LaVaun) Johnson, both of Corning, Iowa; daughter, Cindy (husband Jim) Johnson Nardini of Omaha, Nebraska; step-son, Richard (wife Sandi) Salen of Bedford, Iowa; grandchildren: Andrew (Misty) Johnson of Corning, Iowa, Tina (Chris) Boswell of Corning, Iowa, Jeremiah (Lisa) Johnson of Bedford, Iowa, Joyanna Reimer of Corning, Iowa, Colton Johnson of Springfield, Missouri, A.J. Nardini and Cole Nardini, both of Omaha, Nebraska; step-grandchild, Dory (Erik) Clausen of Creston, Iowa; seven great-grandchildren; brothers: Marvin Johnson of St. Joseph, Missouri, Wayne Johnson of Villisca, Iowa, Norman Johnson of California and sister, Betsy Williams of California.
Ray was preceded in death his parents; first wife, Katherine Johnson; brother, Dean Johnson; sister, Bernice Johnston and grandson-in-law, Landen Reimer