St. Clair County Obits

KATHERINE JOHNSON

Clinton Daily Democrat
August 1994
Katherine Lewis, daughter of Lawrence henry (Harry) and Sarah Blanche Harlan Lewis, was born December 17, 1893, in Osceola. She graduated from Osceola High School in 1912 and December 18, 1912, was married to Waldo P. Johnson. To this union was born a daughter, Alice Blanche, and a son, Waldo P. III.
In 1919, the Johnsons moved to Kansas City, where Mr. Johnson practiced law, and they lived there until 1936, at which time they returned to Osceola for a period of eight years. They then moved to Clinton.
After World War II, they went to Yokohama, Japan, where Mr. Johnson was an attorney with the Judge Advocate Section of the Army at the War Crimes Trials. It was during this time that Mrs. Johnson took lessons from a Japanese artist and began a lifelong joy of painting.
When they returned to the States, they lived in Jefferson City and Mrs. Johnson continued her painting instruction at Lincoln University. from there, they went back to Japan for a year and then she returned to Osceola, a widow, and lived there until 1992. The last three years she has resided in Rock Port.
Waldo P. Johnson died January 1952.
Mrs. Johnson was always active in cultural political and community affairs. She contributed to Red Cross work in both World War I and World War II. She was a member of DAR, The Twentieth Century Club,
the Mary dela Vergne Club, the Tuesday Club, and the Art Guild. She was a member of the Grace United
Methodist Church in Osceola.
Mrs. Johnson was predeceased by her husband, her son, her daughter, one grandson, Robert L. Johnson, and one sister, Mary Harlan Willig.
She is survived by one sister, Lissie L. Butcher of Osceola; four grandchildren, William W. Farmer of Rock Port, Emily J. Stone of Freeport, Fl., Waldo P. Johnson IV of Palm Desert, Ca.; and Andrew L. Johnson of Osceola; ten great-grandchildren, and several great-great-grandchildren.
Graveside services were held Monday, August 8, 1994, at the Osceola Cemetery, conducted by Father Lawrence Lewis, her cousin.