Mary Ruth Johnson

Leachville

Mary Ruth Johnson, 90, of Leachville, died Tuesday, Sept. 11, 2007, at the Twin Rivers Regional Medical Center in Kennett, Mo. Born at Hornersville, Mo., she was the daughter of the late William and Leona Ragsdale Marshall and had lived most of her life in Leachville. The widow of Virgil S. Johnson, she was a longtime member of the First Baptist Church and served many years as the church librarian. She taught in the Leachville Public Schools and was later employed as librarian for the Leachville Branch of the Mississippi County Library System. Mrs. Johnson was a former member of the Mississippi County Hospital Board and was a member of the Leachville Chapter AC, PEO Sisterhood.

In addition to her parents and husband, she was preceded in death by a son, Jerry Max Johnson, four brothers and a sister.

She is survived by a son and daughter-in-law, John A. and Myrna Johnson of Sikeston, Mo.; two daughters and sons-in-law, Sandra and Ronnie Kennett of Leachville and Sherry and Joe Masner of Jonesboro; six grandchildren and spouses, Tommy John and Penny Kennett of Jonesboro, Ron and Kelly Kennett of Jefferson, Ga., Jeff and Paula Johnson of Memphis, Tenn., Jennifer and Murray Wells of Memphis, Tenn., Jill and Nathan Sanders of Leachville, and Marshall and Nikki Wildy of Leachville; 13 great-grandchildren, and a sister, Patricia Miles of Blytheville.

The funeral was held at 2 p.m. Thursday at the First Baptist Church in Leachville with Rev. Rudy Davis officiating. The family received visitors Thursday from 1 p.m. until service time at the church. Burial was in the Leachville Cemetery under the direction of Howard Funeral Service of Leachville.

Pallbearers were Tommy John Kennett, Ron Kennett, Jeff Johnson, Marshall Wildy, Tommy Kennett, Chris Kennett, Murray Wells, and Nathan Sanders. Honorary pallbearers were Keith Kennett, Jacob Sanders, Evan Sanders, Jeb Wells, John Parker Johnson and Jack Johnson. Serving as flower girls were Samantha Kennett, Sydney Wildy, Emma Johnson, Lily Ruth Wells, and Kathryn Wildy.

Friends may sign the online guest register at www.howardfuneralservice.com.