Mom made her way into the world on November 10, 1918, in London, England, and passed away on July 6, 2025.

She was the tenth and last child of Harriet Elizabeth Parsons and Thomas Edgar Johnson. Her oldest sibling was 25 years old. The next day the prime minister of England announced that a treaty had been signed and World War I had ended. Londoners poured out into the streets to celebrate and mom’s parents were inspired to name their newborn “Ivy Olive” — two symbols of peace. Our dad would later joke that mom was his “clinging vine”.

Her childhood and young adulthood were wedged between two world wars. As a child, Ivy had the run of London. Her older siblings were often responsible for watching her during the day and she was someone who really needed watching. She nearly drowned in Leg-of-Mutton Pond and hit her head in a fall from a lift in a barrel factory. She attended St. Luke’s Parochial School and was confirmed in the Anglican Church in 1932. Ivy and her sister, Edie took piano lessons. It didn’t go well for mom because she could play by ear and was eventually “fired” by her piano teacher. Mom could always bang out a tune without the music. The Johnson children were often sent off to attend plays and musicals. When she was older she joined a hiking and bicycling club and enjoyed hiking in Europe.

Mom was an accomplished seamstress. As a young woman she trained in a prestigious fashion school that created beautiful evening attire for high society, including Queen Elizabeth. Later Ivy’s three daughters would be the lucky recipients of beautiful hand sewn school clothes, prom dresses, and bridal gowns.

The onset of World War II ended the production of luxury goods and women were expected to help with the war effort. Mom started working in the national postal service and when it was taken over by the military she was put in charge of a large group of women who sorted the mail. She would achieve the rank of Sergeant Major. She got her nickname “Johnnie” from her staff; it was a shortened version of her last name of Johnson. She would use this nickname for the rest her life. In London, she endured bombings, running to bomb shelters, a brush with death by stampeding draft horses, lost friends, and watched her beloved London leveled by the violence of war.

While stationed in Nottingham, Ivy and a friend didn’t want to eat liver and onions in the mess hall so they headed to the Palais de Danse for better dinner choices. When a handsome American sergeant and his friend asked if they could join them she said “Suit yourself.” She didn’t like him; Americans were too brash, threw their money around and besides, he looked too much like a German (he had Scandinavian heritage). Dad was not deterred because he was already smitten by this beautiful redheaded Sergeant. He took her back to her base in his Jeep and the rest is history. They were married days after the end of the war just before dad was shipped back to the U.S.

Ivy came to America on a ship carrying war brides from all over Europe. On the train trip across the US she was astonished at the abundance of goods that were available to Americans. She hadn’t seen a banana for 6 years, bought a bunch and ate every single one. Her father had given her money she could use to return to England if she had made a mistake. When she spotted a Marshall Field’s department store in Chicago she took advantage of the hour stop and bought three pairs of shoes with the money. She met dad in San Francisco having brought a beautiful nightgown she made from a parachute - the only fabric available. The long drive to Eureka made a big impression on mom, especially the redwood trees. She left a city of 8.5 million people to live in Eureka, population about 17,000. To help with the transition she became a member of the World Friendship club — a group of war brides from Germany, Scotland, Ireland, England, India, Italy, and France. Many of these women were friends for life and mom was the last.

As a young mother she stayed home to raise four children: Michele, Marcelle, Nancy, and Raymond. She had never learned to cook but caught on quickly. We remember eating traditional English foods such as Yorkshire pudding, standing rib roast, steak and kidney pie, scrambled brains, marmalade, and blancmange. Ivy also made sure everyone around her learned to make a proper cup of tea: use good water, bring it to a full rolling boil, use tea leaves imported from England, warm the teapot, use a tea cozy, and add milk and sugar to the teacup — which must be good china. Recently, her wonderful caregivers learned to make “proper tea”.

Mom eventually started working at the motorcycle and boat store owned by dad. She was quite the saleswoman and everyone remembered Johnnie. She also received a license to sell insurance for motorcycles. Mom and dad loved traveling by motorcycle. In their retirement they would travel with friends throughout the Western United States. Dad also restored Jaguars and Morgans and they joined several auto groups making life-long friends along the way. When they traveled to England mom would return with pickled pigs’ feet in her suitcase while dad carried Morgan parts; this was in the days before TSA. They loved England and returned several times.

Dad built a summer home at Lake Shasta and we traveled Highway 299 before they straightened it out. Dad was a fast driver and it wasn’t easy on his queasy kids. We would go over for long weekends and would waterski until we dropped. Mom learned to drive the speedboat and pulled us all on single skis at one time or another.

In the 1970s Mom and Dad bought property at Freshwater where dad built the house they would live in for the rest of their lives. They loved their little piece of paradise and many happy holidays were spent there as they enjoyed their growing family. Mom continued to sew and knit. She also loved volunteering at the Discovery Shop for the American Cancer Society. When dad passed away in 2006 mom continued to live in her home for 15 more years. One of the biggest honors of her life took place when she was about 95. She was flown to Washington D.C. as part of Humboldt County’s Honor Flight. This is a national organization that flies veterans and their guardians to the capitol where citizens and the military express their gratitude for the veterans’ service.

In their senior years mom and dad went out to breakfast every Sunday with friends. They dined at The Eatery in Trinidad at least once a month for over 20 years. Mom wanted to live in Trinidad when they were first married but it was too far away from Dad’s shop. It seems fitting that the Trinidad Cemetery is her final resting place. Her interment service was held on a beautiful sunny day officiated by Reverend Nancy Streufert (also mom’s beloved neighbor) of Christ Episcopal Church and Deacon Cindy Woods of St. Alban’s Episcopal Church. A special thanks to the Vainuku family for caring for mom the last few years; she was very happy there became a treasured member of the family. Thank you also to Ayers Cremation for help with arrangements.

Ivy is survived by her children: Michele Olsen (Rollie), Marcelle Olsen (Steve), Nancy Freemantle (Bob), and Ray Olsen (Nygale). Her grandchildren are Kari White, Ian White, Erika McNamara, Seth Carrico, Mika Holman, Lauren Freemantle, Kelsey Sunderhaus, Nick Freemantle, Camryn Cain, and Aaron Olsen. Her great-grandchildren are Makenna and Kellan McNamara; Ryland, Colton, and Austin Carrico; Brea and Jace Holman; Marley Harris; Lily Sunderhaus; Kaidence, Paul, Wyatt Walker; Kodi and Liam Freemantle; Christian, Charlotte, and Cooper Cain. She is also survived by many nieces and nephews in the U.S. and U.K.

There are several organizations that were dear to mom. Donations can be sent to The American Cancer Society or the 95th Bomb Group Heritage Association, ℅ Grace I. Hammesfahr, PO Box 72, Metuchen, NJ 08840.

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