Ruth Esther (Sly) Johnson
Marriages
James Kenneth Johnson - June 12, 1944
Burial Details
Obituaries
Grand Junction Daily Sentinel - August 10, 2010
Memorial services for lifelong
Nucla resident Ruth Johnson will
be held at 11:00 a.m. on Thursday,
August 12 at the Union Congregational
Church in Nucla, CO.
Interment will be at the Nucla
Cemetery, followed by a celebration
of life at the Nucla Moose
Lodge.
Ruth Esther Johnson was born
August 17, 1925, in Nucla, CO., to Gertrude Irene (Tschop) and
Fred Chester Sly. She died August 9, 2010, at The Valley Inn in
Mancos, Colorado.
Her early years were spent in Nucla. She attended high school in
Glenwood Springs and Nucla and graduated from Nucla High
School in 1943. She went on to school in Grand Junction, CO.,
where she obtained a secretarial degree.
She married James Kenneth Johnson on June 12, 1944, and spent
most of her life in Colorado. She was a wife, mother, grandmother,
and great grandmother. She was very proud to be a rancher's wife
and knew as much about ranching as most ranchers. Gardening was
a passion, not just a way to fill up idle hours. The colorful patchwork
of canned vegetable jars lining the shelves filled her heart with
pride, and throughout the winter - our stomachs. She loved to read,
write poetry, sing, and play cards; and how she loved this part of the
state. She spent many hours picnicking in the cedars and often stated
that, when she died, she'd like to be placed under a cedar tree in
God's County. She had a great sense of humor and loved to laugh
and frequently got "weak in the knees" doing just that. Her quick wit
and smiles will be missed by all who knew her. She loved to call
her children in the early morning hours on weekends, because she
knew they would be at home. It was a good plan except for the timing
of the call. A 4:00 a.m. call, Mountain Standard Time, to California,
Idaho, or Alaska could have varying degrees of acceptance.
Her reply never varied, however, "You're up now!" Her children
miss those calls.
She leaves behind her husband, James Kenneth Johnson of Nucla;
son, Derrill Lee Johnson of Cortez, CO; daughters, Jami Sue Mc-
Caleb of Tracy, CA and Sara Johnson of Twin Falls, ID; sisters,
Freda Swain of Montrose, CO; Evla Shoultz of Bellevue, CO, and
Irva Stokes of Green Valley, AZ; grandchildren, Kelly Ross, Kate
Iman, Luke Lindley, and Curt Lindley; great grandchildren, Colton
and Tanner Ross, David, Thomas, and Lauren Iman, and many
nephews and nieces.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Gertrude and Fred Sly;
sisters, Kathleen Wares, Violet Haskell, Irene Joseph and brother,
Chester Sly.
In lieu of flowers, please make contributions in Ruth's name to a
charity of your choice.
Services are under the direction of Ertel Funeral Home. For further
information or to send condolences, log on to www.ertelfuneralhome.
com and click on the obituary section.
