Phylliss Marie Johnson

Phylliss Marie Johnson, 94 years of age, passed away Friday, April 22, 2016. She was born February 10, 1922 in Park Rapids, Hubbard County, Minnesota to Ovid and Clara Hawks. She joined the United States Navy before graduating and was stationed in Jacksonville, Florida. While stationed in Florida it was learned that her uncle Lloyd C. Hawks was going to be awarded the Medal of Honor by President Franklin D. Roosevelt. The Navy sent her to Washington D.C. where she arrived at the White House along with her father, Ovid, and her uncles Clyde and Lloyd. President Roosevelt was in his wheel chair at this time and asked her to pin the ribbon around Lloyd’s neck. This photo was printed in textbooks and other books written on Roosevelt. She was honored to be involved in that event. In 2007 she and her son traveled to Savannah, Georgia for a medical center dedication named in her uncle’s honor. She traveled with her family to Minnesota in 2012 for a rededication of the gravesite.

When she returned to Jacksonville she met Art Johnson who was also in the Navy and stationed in Jacksonville. After discharge they returned to Aurelia, Iowa and were married on September 13, 1945. They lived in Aurelia, Iowa where Art had an auto body shop. Son David was born in 1951 and daughter Donna was born in 1956. In 1957 they moved to Park Rapids, Minnesota where they raised their two children. Fishing was very high on the events at the Johnson home. Phylliss had the act of always catching the largest fish. In 1968 they moved to Selah, Washington where Phylliss went to work in a number of warehouses in the fruit industry. She was very involved in the Selah Legion Auxiliary and spent many hours crocheting lap robes for the VA Hospital.

They retired in 1980 and became snowbirds in Why, Arizona. In 2005 they gave up snow birding and lived in Selah, Washington year round. Art passed away in 2009 and Phylliss was able to live on her own until she moved to Ponderosa Assisted Living Center in 2014 until her death.

Phylliss is preceded in death by her parents, Ovid and Clara Hawks; uncles Clyde, Sandy and Lloyd Hawks; brother Charles Hawks; and son-in-law Duane Cunningham.

Phylliss is survived by son, David (Carol) Johnson of Harrah; daughter, Donna Cunningham of Selah; four grandchildren: Karen (Chris) Carlile, Eric Johnson (Melanie), Lindsey Johnson, and Brian Cunningham; seven great grandchildren: Taylor, Jacob, Joli, Olivia, and Alexander Carlile, and Parker and Hailey Johnson; sister-in-law Annie Hawks; and numerous nieces and nephews.

Visitation will be held from 4 pm to 7 pm, Wednesday, April 27, 2016 at Keith & Keith Funeral Home.

Funeral services will be at the funeral home on Thursday, April 28 at 11 am followed by burial at West Hills Memorial Park.

Memorials can be made to the American Legion Auxiliary Selah Post No. 88.

To share a memory of Phylliss please visit www.keithandkeith.com.