Martha Ruth Johnson

Martha Ruth (Moses) Johnson, who was born December 17, 1925, in Alden Bridge, LA and died on Friday, November 7^th at Montclair Park Assisted Living Center, where she reside for the last 8 years. Prior to that, she lived in Marseilles, Illinois for 58 years. Martha was preceded in death by her parents John and Lottie Moses (Jena), her husband of 57 years, Dr. Jed Johnson (Marseilles, IL), and her sister Billie Boswell (Shreveport). She is survived by her sons, Brooks (Sue, Incline Village, NV), Kent (Yarmouth, ME), Pastor Mark (Palisade, CO), Jed Stuart (Penny, Louisville, KY), and daughter Rebecca (Lawrence Souza, Pacifica, CA), six grandchildren, and five great-grandchildren. She is also survived by her sisters Nancy Bonner (Shreveport) and Johnette Evans (Bossier) and her brother Don Moses (Jena). She became a Registered Nurse in 1946, graduating from Baylor Nursing School in Dallas. She married Jed Johnson in May of that year, and the couple moved to Roswell, NM, where Jed served in the US Army Air Corps. In 1948 they moved to Marseilles, IL, where Jed practiced medicine for many years, and he and Martha reared five children. Martha earned $15 a month in the Cadet Nurse Corps in 1946, but most of her jobs after that were of the non-paying kind. She was an excellent cook, a gracious hostess, and a splendid nurse to her children when they were sick. She was an active member of the First Baptist Church in Marseilles, where she taught Sunday school, played the piano, and led the choir. She was a friend to many. She wrote countless cards and letters in her life. She was generous to a fault. Martha would sometimes say, "It's true, because I know it in my heart". A service celebrating her life will be held at Rose-Neath Funeral Home, 1815 Marshall Street on Tuesday, November 11^th. Visitation will begin at 10 a.m. with the service at 11 a.m. Martha's brother-in-law Ray Boswell will lead the service. Martha will be buried next to her husband at Riverview Cemetery in Marseilles, IL. Martha's children express sincere thanks to Renee Matheny and the wonderful CNAs at Montclair Park for their loving attention. Circle of Life Hospice provided caring support in her final days. No flowers or contributions, please. If you want to remember Martha, eat a delicious Swiss Steak dinner with rice and gravy next Sunday after church.