Phyllis Marie Johnson

Phyllis Marie Cooper Johnson, 87, of Marshalltown, passed away Thursday, December 27, 2018 at the Iowa River Hospice House in Marshalltown, Iowa. Funeral services for Phyllis will be held on Thursday, January 3, 2019 at 11:00 a.m. at the Mitchell Family Funeral Home. Visitation will be held one hour prior to the service beginning at 10:00 a.m. There will also be a Memorial service at the Embers 2:00 p.m. also on Thursday, January 3, 2019. For condolences or questions please visit www.mitchellfh.com or phone 641-844-1234. Mitchell Family Funeral Home is caring for Phyllis and her family. Memorials may be directed to the family for designation at a later date. Phyllis Cooper was born on April 18, 1931 on the family farm in rural Delaware County to William “Bill” L. R. Cooper and Maria Gazina Helmrich Cooper. She attended schools in Delaware County, graduating from Manchester High School in 1948. On June 13, 1949 Phyllis was united in marriage to Richard H. “Ole” Johnson at the United Methodist Church in Manchester. They made their home in Marion, Iowa and later moved to Whittier, where they owned and operated Johnson’s Heating and Cooling for many years. Phyllis was his right-hand woman, beside him in every way. They were blessed with four children, Rick, Wayne, Lynn and Janine. Phyllis loved to spend time with family and friends. She enjoyed sewing and always had a huge garden. After retirement she picked up the love of quilting and has made over 50 beautiful quilts. After moving to Marshalltown, Phyllis became a member of Center Street Baptist Church. She regularly attended the services at the Ember’s chapel. They chose Garfield, Arkansas as their retirement location, building their beautiful home on Beaver Lake. Visitors were always welcome for fishing and fellowship. After the passing of Ole in 2006, Phyllis continued living there. In 2014 she moved up to Marshalltown to be closer to family and made The Embers her new home. Phyllis is survived by three of their four children, Wayne of Springville, Iowa, Lynn (Faye) of Whittier, Iowa and Janine (Jeff) Miller from Marshalltown; five grandchildren; 11 great-grandchildren and one on the way; one great-great grandchild and one on the way and her sister, Lottie Sands. She is preceded in death by her husband and oldest son, Rick, her parents, one sister Erma McMullen and brother Arvin Cooper.