Marie Johnson, 91, former longtime Great Bend resident and widow of Elmer C. Johnson, passed away on Oct. 18, at Galichia Heart Hospital in Wichita. Born Sept. 23, 1922 in Hugoton, she was the daughter of George W. and Estella (Tolbert) Smith. On Aug. 22, 1938, she was united in marriage to Elmer C. Johnson in Garden City. The couple made their home in Great Bend for many years until Elmer’s death on Feb. 28, 1998.  Marie then lived in Larned for six years, was a resident of the Peabody Nursing Home in Peabody for five years, and had lived the past three years at Meridian Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in Wichita. Marie was a devoted wife and mother who raised and nurtured five children. She enjoyed gardening and cooking, and won many baking contests for her apple pies.
While living in Great Bend Marie was a member of the First Baptist Church.
Survivors include one son, Charles L. and his wife, Anettia Johnson, of Centennial, Colo.; a special niece, Donna Hopkins of Wichita; and a host of grandchildren, cousins, nieces, and nephews and friends who will miss her greatly. She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband; three sons, Lyle, Herbert, and Leland Johnson; one daughter, Deanna Hunt; one grandson, Charles Brown; two brothers Calvin and Herbert Smith; and two sisters, Maybelle and Irene Smith.
Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. on Wednesday, at Charter Funerals in Great Bend, with Pastor Leroy Keith officiating. Interment will be at the Great Bend City Cemetery.  Visitation will be from 4: to 8: p.m. today at the funeral home. Memorials may be directed to the Barton County Mental Health Services. Online condolences may be left for the family and a complete obituary may be viewed at http://www.charterfunerals.com/obituary/chgb.
 
Funeral arrangements provided by
Charter Funerals*
2115 Washington St.
Great Bend, KS  67530
Great Bend (Kan) Tribune, Oct. 22, 2013