Deloris Johnson

Services will be held on Saturday, January 14, 2023 at Missouri United Methodist Church, 204 S. 9th St. in Columbia. Visitation will be held from 11:00 AM to 1:00 PM, followed immediately by a funeral service officiated by Rev. Robert Johnson. Burial will follow at Memorial Park Cemetery, Columbia.

Deloris was born in Montauk, Missouri on October 14, 1927 to the late James Eli and Susan Lula (Foust) Cook. She was united in marriage on December 25, 1947 to Clinton L. Johnson, who preceded her death on March 8, 1988. From this union three children were born: Jan, Gary, and Jim.

Deloris was primarily a homemaker and was famous for her pecan pies. She loved making memories at the family cabin at the Lake of the Ozarks, which she and Clint started building in 1978. They also enjoyed going to St. Louis Cardinals games and notably attended the World Series in 1982.

After Clint’s passing, Deloris took multiple trips to Israel with her brother and sister-in-law, Robert and Sonja Johnson, where she planted a tree in memory of her husband. She was very involved with all of her grandchildren’s lives and loved sharing her love of Beanie Babies with them. She thoroughly enjoyed a family trip to Las Vegas on her 80th birthday, when they took her to see Celine Dion.

As her health declined, Deloris looked forward to visits from the local Meals on Wheels volunteers. Her greatest wish was to live independently and Meals on Wheels helped make that possible.

Deloris is survived by her children, Jan (Glenn) McElroy, Gary (Tammy) Johnson, and Jim (Leah) Johnson; brother-in-law, Bob Johnson; grandchildren, Erin McElroy, Ryan McElroy, Meghann Theobald, Tristan Johnson, Sara Reese, Riley Johnson, and Hayden Johnson; as well as six great-grandchildren. In addition to her husband and parents, she was preceded in death by three sisters and a brother.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Meals on Wheels of Columbia at mealsonwheelscolumbia.org.