Katherine Lorraine Johnson, 84, was reunited with her beloved husband, Les Johnson, on the afternoon of March 5, 2014, at St. Peter’s Hospital where she died from the results of a stroke. She was surrounded by her family at the time of her passing.
Lorraine was born on February 7, 1930, the second daughter to John P. Flanigan and Carrie Bailey Flanigan in Kimball, West Virginia. When she was still a young girl, the Depression forced her father to find work in the coal fields of McDowell, W.V. It was a grim time, but the family’s faith sustained them in their belief that they would not be trapped there forever.
Following the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, John was hired to work in the shipyards in Richmond, California. The family belonged to St. Paul’s Catholic parish and Lorraine and her older sister, Evelyn, both students at Presentation Catholic High School in Berkeley, CA, were invited to join the San Mar Club, an organization for teens. It was in this club that Lorraine met a tall, lanky South Dakota farm boy just back from the war. Les had a shy grin that won Lorraine’s heart and they were married on July 2, 1949. When Les died in 2013 they had been married 63 years!
Through the years, Lorraine and Les had four children, Kathryn, Lauren, David, and Joseph. They loved being parents and were always involved in activities such as: school volunteers; scout, 4-H, & FFA leaders; coaching sports; attending plays, band concerts, dance recitals and a host of other activities.
Along with the children’s activities, Lorraine was involved in other organizations; some of them included the Young Ladies Institute (YLI), the Council of Catholic Women, where she was named the Woman of the Year by the Sacramento Deanery, and, her pride and joy, Mothers’ Prayers, an international group of mothers praying for the children of the world. Lorraine was the U. S. National Coordinator of Mothers’ Prayers until she was no longer able to handle the work involved in the rapidly growing organization.
Mom was a storyteller. When we were children, she made up stories for us. As we grew up and began our adult lives, she began writing down stories both fiction and non-fiction. Many of her stories were published in local newspapers and she won several awards for her writing.
Lorraine was preceded in death by her husband, Laurence Leslie; her parents, John and Carrie Flanigan; in-laws, Maurice and Tillie Johnson; son-in-law, Patrick Ferrie; brother-in-law, T J Mannion; brothers and sisters-in-law, Frank Johnson, Howard and Eunice Johnson, Elmer and May Johnson, Helena and Bob Schone; and nephews, Kent Schone and Kent Wright and grandniece, Jennifer Johnson.
Lorraine is survived by her children and their families, Kate Ferrie, Lauren Hubele (Joachim), David Johnson, and Joe Johnson (Debbie); grandchildren, Erin Miller (Jason), Molly LaChere (Gerald), both of Helena, Meghan Teich, Kaitlin Teich and Sebastian Hubele of Austin, Texas, Amanda Tillie Johnson of San Leandro, California, and Brett and Joey Johnson of Columbus, Georgia. She is also survived by her beloved sister, Evelyn Mannion of San Diego, California, and numerous great-grandchildren, nieces, nephews, cousins and dear friends. She will be greatly missed.
Laurie House says
I am so sorry for your loss. I am so glad I had the opportunity to share some fun times with Lorraine. She had a warm smile and quick wit! She enjoyed many of our Rosetta activities, her favorite seemed to be the monthly shelter dog visits. She is greatly missed.
Laurie House
Activity Director
Rosetta Assisted Living
Charli Mills says
Lorraine and Les were such an inspiration in their long and loving marriage. The greatest gift they ever gave was in how they lived a married life committed to God and family. While I rejoice at their reunion in heaven, I mourn greatly with their daughter, Kate, her children and their family. May God bless them and keep them close during this time of sorrow.