Edna Johnson passed away at the age of 98 on February 25, 2022 at 3:49 p.m. in her home in Hydesville. She was born on Nov 18, 1923, in Phillips Co., Kansas.

She is survived by her brother, William George Barg, Jr, who lives in MacClenny, Florida, grandson Gerald Randall Johnson who lives in Carlotta, her granddaughter in-law, Linda Wilkinson who lives in Fortuna, great-granddaughter Jennifer Johnson, great-great granddaughter Kylee Lexus Carter, her nephews: Jimmie Nash, Robert Barg, George Barg, nieces: Colleen Hartman, Arliss Nash Morgan, Vicki Barg, Judith Barg, and many others. She was preceded in death by her husband, Lloyd M. Johnson, her sister Evelyn Barg, her father, William George Barg, Sr., her mother, Susanna Rosina Howard, her son Gerald L aka ‘Pete’ ‘Jake’ Johnson, and a lot of other family and friends.

Edna was born and raised in Phillips Co., Kansas on a 300-acre farm. She and her siblings had to wear bandanas over their face during the dust bowl days as well as walk to school through snow and freezing cold temps. Edna was one tough woman and was not afraid of work and was a hard worker. She made bombs and ammo at Naval Ammunition Depot in Hastings, Nebraska during World War II, she drove a semi, and later she worked at the Coast oyster plant. Her husband was a contractor, so she traveled to various jobs with him and helped him with his bookkeeping.

She moved to Eureka in Humboldt County in about 1956 with her husband Lloyd. They lived in Carlotta for many years. They had burros out there. Later they moved to Hydesville and lived there around 20 years. Her sister died of polio, so she helped raise her three children, Jimmie Nash, Colleen Hartman and Arliss Morgan. She helped support her grandson, Gerald R. Johnson.

One story I remember her telling me was: Edna didn’t care for live fowl, as she got attacked by a rooster when she was a young child. A truck full of live turkeys stalled on the highway in Kansas. The driver gave one live turkey to her husband, who put it in the cab of the truck with them. It scared her, so she made him stop and get it out of the cab and put it in the back.

She had a big, beautiful walnut tree and would gather the nuts, clean them an distribute them to family and neighbors, as well as pears. She was an excellent cook, and her recipes were considered gold by the family. She canned fruits and vegetables every year. She washed her dishes by hand and used the dishwasher for her canning jars. She helped her husband design the remodel of their home in Hydesville.

I remember her preparing enough food to feed a 100 people for her 90th birthday party. She had 75 people attend. She was great at gardeningvegetables and flowers; she took pride in her yard looking nice. She crocheted beautiful full-size afghans, smaller ones for children, and beautiful doilies. She loved to dance, and her and her husband use to go dancing about every weekend. She was extremely independent, was able to drive, take care of herself, and conduct business right up until she was hospitalized before passing.

She really wanted to live to 100 and always told me to live long, so I was the only one I knew.

A memorial service will be held at a later date.

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