Martha Elvira Johnson
August 1, 1921 – May 22, 2021
Martha Elvira Johnson died Saturday, May 22, 2021 in Edmond, Oklahoma at the age of 99. Martha was born in Independence, Missouri on August 1, 1921, to Ella Seevers Johnson and David Johnson. Martha was the first of three girls, and the sisters were very close until the deaths of Rosella Johnson Epperson in 2014 and Olive Johnson Nugent Wyrick in 2019. Martha graduated from the Kansas City Teachers' College in 1943 and began teaching in the Kansas City Missouri Public School System. In 1948 she moved to Denver, Colorado to teach in the Denver Public School System, which she did for the next 30 years. She also earned her Master's in Education degree at Denver University in 1955.
Martha loved to teach, and she especially loved teaching younger children. She took piano lessons so that she could teach Kindergarten and taught it for most of her teaching career. Martha was also very involved in the Warren United Methodist Church. It was members of Warren Church, which included Martha, whose vision and leadership led to the establishment in 1974 of Warren Village, a nonprofit transitional apartment and education center for single-parent families who have experienced home insecurity. Parents are provided with education, career and financial counseling, and life skills and parenting classes. Children are provided with quality early childhood education and tutoring for older children, as well as social services, all while the family is living in a safe and supportive environment in their own apartment. This holistic approach sets families up for success, and former resident families are able to thrive independently.
Martha was an avid reader, gardener, traveler, and life-long volunteer. She enjoyed her Summers off traveling with her parents or other family and friends and went to New Zealand for her first retirement trip. She was a member of PEO, United Methodist Women, and various academic and professional groups. She gave special time and attention to her nine nieces and nephews when they young, taking them on special outings, and particularly enjoyed their visits to her in Denver. She visited family in Kansas City and Oklahoma City frequently.
She is preceded in death by her parents, sisters, and nephew Wayne Epperson. She is survived by Wayne's wife Kelly Epperson, and other nieces and nephews Les Nugent (Danelle), Bruce Epperson (Geneva), Peggy Epperson (Craig Challander), Steve Epperson (Mary), Karen Nugent, Kathy Rodriguez, David Epperson, and Sheryl Pugh (Rob). She also leaves cousin Glenna Corn (Gordon), as well as many great-nieces and great-nephews, friends, and former students.
A hybrid virtual and in-person service will be on June 12 at 1:00 PM at Matthews Memorial Chapel, 601 S. Kelly Ave, Edmond, OK, or using the link they provide for the virtual service. A private burial will be at Greenlawn Memorial Gardens in Kansas City, Mo. In lieu of flowers, donations to the Warren Village Learning Center in Martha's memory are suggested: www.warrenvillage.org , or 1323 Gilpin St., Denver, CO, 80218-2552.
We will be live streaming this service in an effort to accommodate those people that wish to attend but feel they should not due to health regulations. To watch the service CLICK HERE to go to our YouTube page. Click on 'Videos', then 'Live Streams'.