Lillie Johnson

Lillie Johnson, age 86, of Lamar, passed away Tuesday, March 21, 2017, surrounded by the love of her family at St. Luke’s Nursing Center in Carthage.       Lillie was born October 27, 1930, in El Dorado Springs, Missouri, one of the thirteen children of Charles and Millie (Herring) Plain. In 1956, Lillie married Jewell McCall and he died in an automobile accident in 1961.  In 1965, she met and married the love of her life, Carl “Bob” Johnson and they shared 11 years together before his passing in 1977.   She was also preceded in death by her parents; six brothers, Harlan, Ross, Glen, Clyde, Howard, and Ivan Plain; four sisters, twin babies, Idabelle and Maybelle Plain, Eunice Quarles and Dorothy Combs; a grandson, Christopher Plain; and a great-grandson, Kahl Kirk.       Survivors include three sons, Fred (Sally) Plain, Pittsburg, Kansas, Jim (Karen) Kinney, Lamar, and David (Katie) Johnson, Lamar; three daughters, Sheila (Gary) Stevens, Lamar, Lori (Joe) Walker, and Lisa Reece, all of Joplin, Missouri; two sisters, Bernice Workman and Ruby Dell Hamm, both of Decatur, Illinois; 21 grandchildren; 32 great-grandchildren; and a great-great-grandson; many nephews and nieces; and a large extended family.       Growing up with a strong work ethic and a “can-do” attitude, Lillie had worked as a waitress at Brother Adam’s Restaurant, worked alongside Jewell in the McCall Concrete Block Plant for several years, was a draftsman for Finley Engineering; and cashiered for Jim & Charlie’s Market and Steve’s Coastal for many years.  At home, Lillie shared the abundance of her huge vegetable garden with family and friends and the beauty of her flowers and petunia beds with the entire community.   She was a self taught musician and enjoyed playing the piano and organ.  Lillie was an excellent seamstress, sewing clothes for her girls as well as wardrobes for their Barbie dolls.  She was an animal-lover, and many dogs and cats were fortunate enough to be called hers through the years.  Her door was always open for fellowship of family and dear friends and countless lives were enriched by time spent with Lillie.       Funeral services will be held at 2:00 p.m. Sunday, March 26th, at Daniel Funeral Home where the family will receive friends from 3:00 until 4:00 p.m. Saturday, March 25th.  Burial will be in Lake Cemetery.       Memorial contributions are suggested to The Alzheimer’s Association or Bob Johnson Memorial Scholarship Fund in care of the funeral home.