Ann Johnson

E. Ann Johnson

April 25, 1936 ~ Dec. 24, 2025

Edith Ann Christofferson Johnson passed away of natural causes at the age of 89 in Ogden, Utah.

Her birth occurred on the 25th of April 1936 in Taylor, Idaho (near Idaho Falls) in the home of her grandparents, Edith and Frank Arave. Before she was born, her parents Leo and Ora Arave Christofferson had decided on her name. If it was a girl, she would be named Leora after her parents. But right after her birth it was pointed out that she was the very first granddaughter on both sides of the family, and therefore she should be named after the two grandmothers, Edith and Anna. So it was settled. Her name forevermore was Edith Ann.

When she was 3 years old, a little sister - Dona Nel joined the family. The very next year the family moved far away to the coast of Washington State where more work was available. Ann and her sister grew up in the little town of South Bend, Washington. As she grew older, folks would ask her what she wanted to be. She would give different answers - a teacher, or a secretary. She wanted babies to love, so she also wanted to get married and have children. After her first perm at a hair salon, she decided she would like to be a beautician. She was able to fulfill all of these ambitions.

When she was a Freshman, she met her future husband, Melvin Johnson. They were high school sweethearts. The Korean War was waging, and after his graduation from high school, he joined the Navy and shipped to the Philippine Islands. Meanwhile, Ann’s family relocated to Longview, Washington.

She graduated from R.A. Long High School in June of 1954. Eight days later she and Mel were married in his home town of Raymond, Washington on June 12, 1954. A year later he accepted a Sheetmetal Apprenticeship at the Puget Sound Naval Shipyard in Bremerton, Washington. They lived in the Bremerton area for the next 33 years. Here they raised their two children, David and Carol.

In 1961, the LDS missionaries visited them and they joined the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. They were sealed along with their two children in May of 1963 in the Idaho Falls Temple. In 1964, Ann enrolled in Mr. Lee’s Beauty School and received her license the next year. She worked in various beauty shops for the next four years. Then in 1968, she decided she couldn't turn down a government job as a secretary for the same shipyard where her husband worked. After 20 years and a nice little retirement annuity, they both retired and moved to Coeur d’Alene, Idaho where they built a log home. For the next 7 years, they were the proprietors of Ann & Mel’s Log House Bed & Breakfast. In 1997, Mel’s health suffered a downturn from a heart attack, so they decided to sell and were invited to move to Brigham City, Utah, where their daughter and five grandchildren lived.

During the growing years of their little family, they bought a camping trailer and every year they would make trips all over the United States camping all the way. They were short 3 states of visiting all the continental states.

Ann’s hobbies were genealogy, writing letters, rubber stamping, writing poetry, collecting discarded grocery lists, playing the piano, baking bread, writing newsletters, reading - especially history and non-fiction, working crossword puzzles, picnics, swimming, walking, and going on scenic drives. To help give back to the community, she was a regular Red Cross blood donor starting in the shipyard where she worked, and from then on during her lifetime. Several gallons of blood can be attributed to her.

She had many LDS callings: Secretary of every women’s organization in the Church; Primary Teacher; typing church programs and church newsletters; Wolf Den Leader in Cub Scouts; Compassionate Leader in R.S.; baking the Sacrament Bread; making greeting cards (birthday, thank-you, and thinking of you cards) for Relief Society; and Visiting Teaching.

She was also active in the Daughters of Utah Pioneers.

Ann was known for many things, one of which was playing ragtime piano. Her professional name was Ragtime Annie. She entertained many residents of assisted living facilities and at the Senior Centers in Coeur d’Alene and Brigham City. She also “entertained the troops” at the Veteran’s Home in Ogden and at various church functions and socials where they lived.

Her husband, Mel of 60 years passed away on December 21, 2014 after living in Brigham City for ten years. She will be buried by his side in the Taylor Cemetery in Idaho.

Ann is survived by one daughter: Carol Louise (she married Ken Harlow of Brigham City), 7 grandchildren, 6 great grandchildren with one on the way. She also leaves behind a sister, Dona Haines and one nieces who reside in the Longview-Kelso area of Washington State. She was preceded in death by her parents, husband, Mel, her son, David Alan Johnson and one niece.

Memorial services will be held on Monday, January 5, 2026 at 11:00 am at the Brigham City 25th Ward, 865 S 300 W., Brigham City, Utah, where it will be livestreamed.

Send condolences to www.gilliesmortuary.com

Entrusted to Gillies Funeral Chapel, Brigham City, Utah.