- Date Of Birth: August 2, 1928
- Date Of Death: May 30, 2011
- State: Indiana
Mary Ellen Johnson, 82, of Long Lake, Union, died at 2:15 p.m. Monday, May 30, 2011, at Elkhart General Hospital of natural causes. A lung cancer survivor, she enjoyed over 12 healthy years after surgery.
She was born August 2, 1928, in Elkhart, the youngest child of Albert Earl and Margaret Elaine (Seibert) Waterman. She attended Elkhart Central High School in the class of 1946, leaving school early due to a family emergency. She proudly completed her GED in 1972.
She is the former spouse of Richard N. (Dick) Johnson of Elkhart, who preceded her in death.
They had one son, Daniel T. Johnson of Union, who survives, along with a half sister, Esther Paulette “PJ” (Waterman) Blumenstine of Eustis, Fla.; and a niece, Cindy (Hosteter) Gauger of Silver Cliff, Wis.
Also preceding her in death were a sister, Doris E. Van Camp of Marcellus, Mich.; a brother, Richard E. Waterman of Yountville, Calif.; and a sister, Fern E. Neely of Edwardsburg, Mich.
Prior to becoming a homemaker, she worked in Elkhart at White Hall and later at NIBCO. In retirement, she became known locally as a “plant lady,” selling succulents at local flea markets. She was a member of the Elkhart County Genealogical Society, Cass County Audubon and Vandalia 235 OES. She was an outspoken supporter of the Democratic Party.
