Mary Myrtle (White) Johnson, third of six children of William C. White and Anna Pearl (Sheaffer) White was born July 31, 1911 in Calhoun, Missouri. During her childhood the family resided in Harrisonville, Arkansas, and Olathe, Kansas, returning to Missouri in 1927, where she attended high schools in Calhoun and Clinton. On March 6, 1932, she married Charles Wesley Johnson. In 1948, they purchased a grocery store on Allen Street in Clinton where Mary managed the store while husband Charles ran a bulk gasoline operation for Cities Service Oil Company. In 1950, they sold the store and moved to a home on Orchard Street in Clinton. Two years later, Charles joined brother Arlie in the operation of Johnson Brother's Hardware on the Clinton Square.
Charles preceded Mary in death on September 2, 1983. Also preceding her in death were her parents, two brothers, Beryl White and Howard White, and three sisters, Loretta Clements, Beulah Hascall and Faye McElwain. Mary was grateful for the music talent the Lord gave her and, following Charles' death, worked to improve her piano-playing skills. For the next 20 years Mary volunteered to play piano almost every day at a variety of locations. She organized and led a Senior Center Kitchen Band in Clinton for several years, often entertained at area nursing homes, and enjoyed playing for Sunday services at Parks Chapel Methodist Church in Clinton during the years of 1999 and 2000. Mary joined the Christian Church of Olathe, Kansas, 'n 1923, later joined the congregation of Good Hope Baptist Church outside of Clinton, and finally moved her membership to the First Baptist Church in Clinton. She was a member of the CCS Club and was involved with several Bridge, Pinochle, and Canasta Clubs. Mary is survived by her daughter, Velma Fern Anders and husband Harold of Sedalia, Missouri, and son, Donald L Johnson and wife Beth of Panama City Beach, Florida. Grandchildren include Garry Anders of Odessa, Missouri, Marilyn (Anders) Rogel, of Olathe, Kansas, Karen (Anders) Harris of Kansas City, Missouri, and Kent Wesley Johnson of Kansas City, Kansas. Mary was blessed with eleven great-grandchildren and four great-great-grandchildren. Also surviving Mary is her double-cousin, Louise (White) Purnell of Kansas City, Missouri, who was like a sister to her. The family suggests memorial gifts to the First Baptist Church of Clinton or the Clinton Senior Center.