MORRISTOWN, Tenn. - E. Joan "Jo" Johnston, 89, formerly of Olean, N.Y., Cuba Lake, N.Y. and of Haines City, Fla., passed away Tuesday (Nov. 22, 2022) at the Heritage Center Nursing Home in Morristown after a lengthy illness. She had resided there for the past 2½ years.
Jo was born Feb. 19, 1933, in Ottumwa, Iowa, the sixth of eight children born to Thomas and Madge Thompson Murray. On Feb. 18, 1951, at the Pleasant Home Methodist Church in Ottumwa, she married Orville W. Johnston Jr., who preceded her in death on May 20, 1998.
Jo graduated in 1950 from high school in Blakesburg, Iowa, and later attended classes at Alfred State College and Alfred University. During the latter part of the 1960s and through the 1970s she worked at separate times for both schools, primarily as a secretary in the business, facilities or financial aid offices.
In 1979 she began working part-time for Christ United Methodist Church in Olean, where she developed its educational programs. In 1982 she purchased the former Budget Print Center in Olean and operated it successfully until selling in 1985. She then began working as a real estate associate with her husband Orv at his business, Coldwell Banker Realtors in Olean, until retiring in 1993.
During her retirement years she and her husband enjoyed a summer residence at Cuba Lake, and wintering in Haines City. She made that her permanent home in 2000. There she was a member of the Lake Alfred Presbyterian Church.
Jo's strong faith in God was a foundation for all she did. From that faith she was blessed with a strong marriage, three well-raised children and a dedication of service to others. She was a former member of the First Presbyterian Church in Olean and served in various activities, including as a deacon, an elder and as president of the Women's Association. She also served as a director for the Olean area Camp Fire Association.
She loved skiing, reading, camping, crafts and providing a home for foreign exchange students through Rotary International. She loved traveling with her husband throughout the U.S. and Europe, and Rotary gave them opportunity for further travel in service to others. Through her service to Rotary for many years, she was given its highest honor, the Paul Harris Fellow award.
Surviving are three daughters, Marjorie (Joe) Myers of White Pine, Melody (John Halley) Jones of Haines City and Eden (Len) Kaszuba of Buffalo, N.Y.; a daughter-in-law, Jeanne Johnston of Allegany, N.Y.; grandchildren, Owen (Kristy) Johnston, Jeff (Valerie) Johnston, Angela (Jason) Honeck, Kris (Lisa) Jones, Kara (Mike) Jennings, Annie (Les) Walker, Gregg (April) Kaszuba and Mimi (Kevin) Liddy; 15 great-grandchildren, Evelyn, Orion, Hunter, Ella, Madison, Kennedy, Hudson, Wyatt, Cole, Liam, Hadlee, Emma, Gabby, Tate and David; two sisters, Judy Eden and Karon Thompson, both of Iowa; and many nieces and nephews. Also surviving is a dear friend and traveling partner, Nick Payne of Houston, Texas.
In addition to her husband, she was predeceased by a son, O. Wayne Johnston on Nov. 2, 2021; a great-granddaughter, Olivia Johnston; three brothers, Paul Murray, Marvin Murray and Thomas Murray Jr.; and two sisters, Mary Eiffert and Marvelle Leffler.
The family will welcome friends to a memorial visitation from 9 to 10 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 10, 2022, at the Casey, Halwig & Hartle Funeral Home, 3128 W. State Road, Olean. A memorial service will begin at 10 a.m. in the funeral home, with Dr. Anthony Evans to officiate. A private burial service will be in Pleasant Valley Cemetery, Olean.
Memorials, if desired, may be made to the Olean Rotary Club, Inc., C/O Cattaraugus Region Community Foundation, 301 N. Union St., Olean, NY 14760; or to the Avalon Hospice, 305 Calvary Drive, Morristown, TN 37813.
Online condolences may be expressed at oleanfuneralhome.com.
(c) Published by Olean Times Herald on Nov. 25, 2022.
Used with permission
Jo was born Feb. 19, 1933, in Ottumwa, Iowa, the sixth of eight children born to Thomas and Madge Thompson Murray. On Feb. 18, 1951, at the Pleasant Home Methodist Church in Ottumwa, she married Orville W. Johnston Jr., who preceded her in death on May 20, 1998.
Jo graduated in 1950 from high school in Blakesburg, Iowa, and later attended classes at Alfred State College and Alfred University. During the latter part of the 1960s and through the 1970s she worked at separate times for both schools, primarily as a secretary in the business, facilities or financial aid offices.
In 1979 she began working part-time for Christ United Methodist Church in Olean, where she developed its educational programs. In 1982 she purchased the former Budget Print Center in Olean and operated it successfully until selling in 1985. She then began working as a real estate associate with her husband Orv at his business, Coldwell Banker Realtors in Olean, until retiring in 1993.
During her retirement years she and her husband enjoyed a summer residence at Cuba Lake, and wintering in Haines City. She made that her permanent home in 2000. There she was a member of the Lake Alfred Presbyterian Church.
Jo's strong faith in God was a foundation for all she did. From that faith she was blessed with a strong marriage, three well-raised children and a dedication of service to others. She was a former member of the First Presbyterian Church in Olean and served in various activities, including as a deacon, an elder and as president of the Women's Association. She also served as a director for the Olean area Camp Fire Association.
She loved skiing, reading, camping, crafts and providing a home for foreign exchange students through Rotary International. She loved traveling with her husband throughout the U.S. and Europe, and Rotary gave them opportunity for further travel in service to others. Through her service to Rotary for many years, she was given its highest honor, the Paul Harris Fellow award.
Surviving are three daughters, Marjorie (Joe) Myers of White Pine, Melody (John Halley) Jones of Haines City and Eden (Len) Kaszuba of Buffalo, N.Y.; a daughter-in-law, Jeanne Johnston of Allegany, N.Y.; grandchildren, Owen (Kristy) Johnston, Jeff (Valerie) Johnston, Angela (Jason) Honeck, Kris (Lisa) Jones, Kara (Mike) Jennings, Annie (Les) Walker, Gregg (April) Kaszuba and Mimi (Kevin) Liddy; 15 great-grandchildren, Evelyn, Orion, Hunter, Ella, Madison, Kennedy, Hudson, Wyatt, Cole, Liam, Hadlee, Emma, Gabby, Tate and David; two sisters, Judy Eden and Karon Thompson, both of Iowa; and many nieces and nephews. Also surviving is a dear friend and traveling partner, Nick Payne of Houston, Texas.
In addition to her husband, she was predeceased by a son, O. Wayne Johnston on Nov. 2, 2021; a great-granddaughter, Olivia Johnston; three brothers, Paul Murray, Marvin Murray and Thomas Murray Jr.; and two sisters, Mary Eiffert and Marvelle Leffler.
The family will welcome friends to a memorial visitation from 9 to 10 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 10, 2022, at the Casey, Halwig & Hartle Funeral Home, 3128 W. State Road, Olean. A memorial service will begin at 10 a.m. in the funeral home, with Dr. Anthony Evans to officiate. A private burial service will be in Pleasant Valley Cemetery, Olean.
Memorials, if desired, may be made to the Olean Rotary Club, Inc., C/O Cattaraugus Region Community Foundation, 301 N. Union St., Olean, NY 14760; or to the Avalon Hospice, 305 Calvary Drive, Morristown, TN 37813.
Online condolences may be expressed at oleanfuneralhome.com.
(c) Published by Olean Times Herald on Nov. 25, 2022.
Used with permission
MORRISTOWN, Tenn. - E. Joan "Jo" Johnston, 89, formerly of Olean, N.Y., Cuba Lake, N.Y. and of Haines City, Fla., passed away Tuesday (Nov. 22, 2022) at the Heritage Center Nursing Home in Morristown after a lengthy illness. She had resided there for the past 2½ years.
Jo was born Feb. 19, 1933, in Ottumwa, Iowa, the sixth of eight children born to Thomas and Madge Thompson Murray. On Feb. 18, 1951, at the Pleasant Home Methodist Church in Ottumwa, she married Orville W. Johnston Jr., who preceded her in death on May 20, 1998.
Jo graduated in 1950 from high school in Blakesburg, Iowa, and later attended classes at Alfred State College and Alfred University. During the latter part of the 1960s and through the 1970s she worked at separate times for both schools, primarily as a secretary in the business, facilities or financial aid offices.
In 1979 she began working part-time for Christ United Methodist Church in Olean, where she developed its educational programs. In 1982 she purchased the former Budget Print Center in Olean and operated it successfully until selling in 1985. She then began working as a real estate associate with her husband Orv at his business, Coldwell Banker Realtors in Olean, until retiring in 1993.
During her retirement years she and her husband enjoyed a summer residence at Cuba Lake, and wintering in Haines City. She made that her permanent home in 2000. There she was a member of the Lake Alfred Presbyterian Church.
Jo's strong faith in God was a foundation for all she did. From that faith she was blessed with a strong marriage, three well-raised children and a dedication of service to others. She was a former member of the First Presbyterian Church in Olean and served in various activities, including as a deacon, an elder and as president of the Women's Association. She also served as a director for the Olean area Camp Fire Association.
She loved skiing, reading, camping, crafts and providing a home for foreign exchange students through Rotary International. She loved traveling with her husband throughout the U.S. and Europe, and Rotary gave them opportunity for further travel in service to others. Through her service to Rotary for many years, she was given its highest honor, the Paul Harris Fellow award.
Surviving are three daughters, Marjorie (Joe) Myers of White Pine, Melody (John Halley) Jones of Haines City and Eden (Len) Kaszuba of Buffalo, N.Y.; a daughter-in-law, Jeanne Johnston of Allegany, N.Y.; grandchildren, Owen (Kristy) Johnston, Jeff (Valerie) Johnston, Angela (Jason) Honeck, Kris (Lisa) Jones, Kara (Mike) Jennings, Annie (Les) Walker, Gregg (April) Kaszuba and Mimi (Kevin) Liddy; 15 great-grandchildren, Evelyn, Orion, Hunter, Ella, Madison, Kennedy, Hudson, Wyatt, Cole, Liam, Hadlee, Emma, Gabby, Tate and David; two sisters, Judy Eden and Karon Thompson, both of Iowa; and many nieces and nephews. Also surviving is a dear friend and traveling partner, Nick Payne of Houston, Texas.
In addition to her husband, she was predeceased by a son, O. Wayne Johnston on Nov. 2, 2021; a great-granddaughter, Olivia Johnston; three brothers, Paul Murray, Marvin Murray and Thomas Murray Jr.; and two sisters, Mary Eiffert and Marvelle Leffler.
The family will welcome friends to a memorial visitation from 9 to 10 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 10, 2022, at the Casey, Halwig & Hartle Funeral Home, 3128 W. State Road, Olean. A memorial service will begin at 10 a.m. in the funeral home, with Dr. Anthony Evans to officiate. A private burial service will be in Pleasant Valley Cemetery, Olean.
Memorials, if desired, may be made to the Olean Rotary Club, Inc., C/O Cattaraugus Region Community Foundation, 301 N. Union St., Olean, NY 14760; or to the Avalon Hospice, 305 Calvary Drive, Morristown, TN 37813.
Online condolences may be expressed at oleanfuneralhome.com.
(c) Published by Olean Times Herald on Nov. 25, 2022.
Used with permission
Jo was born Feb. 19, 1933, in Ottumwa, Iowa, the sixth of eight children born to Thomas and Madge Thompson Murray. On Feb. 18, 1951, at the Pleasant Home Methodist Church in Ottumwa, she married Orville W. Johnston Jr., who preceded her in death on May 20, 1998.
Jo graduated in 1950 from high school in Blakesburg, Iowa, and later attended classes at Alfred State College and Alfred University. During the latter part of the 1960s and through the 1970s she worked at separate times for both schools, primarily as a secretary in the business, facilities or financial aid offices.
In 1979 she began working part-time for Christ United Methodist Church in Olean, where she developed its educational programs. In 1982 she purchased the former Budget Print Center in Olean and operated it successfully until selling in 1985. She then began working as a real estate associate with her husband Orv at his business, Coldwell Banker Realtors in Olean, until retiring in 1993.
During her retirement years she and her husband enjoyed a summer residence at Cuba Lake, and wintering in Haines City. She made that her permanent home in 2000. There she was a member of the Lake Alfred Presbyterian Church.
Jo's strong faith in God was a foundation for all she did. From that faith she was blessed with a strong marriage, three well-raised children and a dedication of service to others. She was a former member of the First Presbyterian Church in Olean and served in various activities, including as a deacon, an elder and as president of the Women's Association. She also served as a director for the Olean area Camp Fire Association.
She loved skiing, reading, camping, crafts and providing a home for foreign exchange students through Rotary International. She loved traveling with her husband throughout the U.S. and Europe, and Rotary gave them opportunity for further travel in service to others. Through her service to Rotary for many years, she was given its highest honor, the Paul Harris Fellow award.
Surviving are three daughters, Marjorie (Joe) Myers of White Pine, Melody (John Halley) Jones of Haines City and Eden (Len) Kaszuba of Buffalo, N.Y.; a daughter-in-law, Jeanne Johnston of Allegany, N.Y.; grandchildren, Owen (Kristy) Johnston, Jeff (Valerie) Johnston, Angela (Jason) Honeck, Kris (Lisa) Jones, Kara (Mike) Jennings, Annie (Les) Walker, Gregg (April) Kaszuba and Mimi (Kevin) Liddy; 15 great-grandchildren, Evelyn, Orion, Hunter, Ella, Madison, Kennedy, Hudson, Wyatt, Cole, Liam, Hadlee, Emma, Gabby, Tate and David; two sisters, Judy Eden and Karon Thompson, both of Iowa; and many nieces and nephews. Also surviving is a dear friend and traveling partner, Nick Payne of Houston, Texas.
In addition to her husband, she was predeceased by a son, O. Wayne Johnston on Nov. 2, 2021; a great-granddaughter, Olivia Johnston; three brothers, Paul Murray, Marvin Murray and Thomas Murray Jr.; and two sisters, Mary Eiffert and Marvelle Leffler.
The family will welcome friends to a memorial visitation from 9 to 10 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 10, 2022, at the Casey, Halwig & Hartle Funeral Home, 3128 W. State Road, Olean. A memorial service will begin at 10 a.m. in the funeral home, with Dr. Anthony Evans to officiate. A private burial service will be in Pleasant Valley Cemetery, Olean.
Memorials, if desired, may be made to the Olean Rotary Club, Inc., C/O Cattaraugus Region Community Foundation, 301 N. Union St., Olean, NY 14760; or to the Avalon Hospice, 305 Calvary Drive, Morristown, TN 37813.
Online condolences may be expressed at oleanfuneralhome.com.
(c) Published by Olean Times Herald on Nov. 25, 2022.
Used with permission
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