Esther A. Johnson

Esther A. Johnson, 92, died Thursday, Dec. 27, 2012, at the Moore Few Care Center in Nevada, Mo. She was born Feb. 23, 1920, in Harper, Kan., the daughter of Joseph Swartz and Jenny Edith Lyle Swartz. She married Lawrence Leo Johnson. Esther had worked for the MKT Railroad for several years and also in the administrative office of Mercy Hospital. She later worked for several years as a bank teller for City State Bank. In earlier years, she was a member of the First Church of God in Fort Scott. She later attended the Clayton Christian Church.

Survivors include her four children, Jerry Johnston and wife, Ellen, Nixa, Mo., Claribel Kerrick and husband, Marlin, Deerfield, Mo., Billy Joe Johnson and wife, Kathy, Fort Scott, Kan., and Roger Johnson and wife, Cindy, Windsor, Mo. Also surviving are 10 grandchildren and several great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her husband and eight brothers and sisters.

The Rev. Bill Smith will conduct graveside services at 2 p.m., Monday, Dec. 31, at the Evergreen Cemetery. Friends and family may meet at the Cheney Witt Chapel prior to leaving for the cemetery at 1:45 p.m. Memorials are suggested to the American Cancer Society and may be left in care of the Cheney Witt Chapel, 201 S. Main, P.O. Box 347, Ft. Scott, Kan., 66701.

Words of remembrance may be submitted to the online guestbook at cheneywitt.com.