Mary Burkhart Johnson

Mary Burkhart Johnson was born on February 6, 1939 to Carl and Velma Burkhart, in Washburn Missouri. Mary was the oldest of 4 children, Joan, Jim, and Sharon. All including Mary’s parents are deceased. 

Mary married Grant L. Johnson in March of 1986 in Ogden, Utah.  They were married 36 years.

Mary is survived by Grant L. Johnson, husband, a son, David (Peggy) Harrop, a daughter, Debbie (Larry) Holt, and a daughter Shelley Gamble, deceased. Mary has 6 grandchildren and 16 great grandchildren.

Mary worked at St. Benedict’s Hospital for 25 years doing the overnight admitting. She loved graveyard shift and the people she worked with. She retired at age 65 and enjoyed her time with the grandkids, camping at our cabin, fishing, and snowmobiling. Her favorite time at the cabin was just after Memorial Day when all the bushes were in flower and the lilac bush was in bloom. She especially liked sitting on the bridge over the creek and listening to the water tumble over the rocks.  She could sit there for an hour soaking in the sun.

Mary would also snowmobile into the cabin in the winter time and one night, at 10 pm and at -5 degrees, went for a ride, with a full moon and enjoyed it so much we rode 39 miles that night. The only time we got a little cold is when we stopped to see the lights of Park City. Mary has gone snowmobiling twice in Yellowstone Park, a few times at Soldier Summit, and once in Aspen Wyoming.

Mary enjoyed fishing but couldn’t swim and was a little nervous about our 19’ inboard/outboard boat, until we bought a 24’ boat that sat high in the water. Then she loved the water.  She also enjoyed going fishing with her son, Dave.

She could target practice at the cabin and could shoot trap targets with a pretty good aim.

We went on 3 cruises in the Caribbean.   Other vacations we took were to Disney World, Disneyland, San Francisco, Kettle falls, Washington, Alberta, Canada, and Nashville, Tennessee. We rode Amtrack from Salt Lake City to Denver at the end of September when all the colors were changing, taking all of the kids, their  spouses, and a granddaughter. We toured Denver for one day and rode it back home. Mary’s mother, Velma Burkhart went with us on most of our adventures. 

Mary was an active member of Washington Heights Church in South Ogden. She volunteered to wash dishes on Wednesday nights when they had dinners. She was active in the Keenagers class, a class of seniors in the church. She helped in planning parties for them, either at the cabin or in the church. She participated in the dinner theater at Christmas time and enjoyed preparing a special table, setting it, and having different people come each year.

Mary enjoyed a good full life.  She was beloved by all.

We want to give special thanks to A+ Hospice and Chancellor Gardens Memory Care who provided loving care and service to Mary during her final days.

A celebration of Mary’s life will be held on Thursday, December 29^th, at 11 am at Washington Heights Church, 1770 East 6200 South. Ogden, Utah.