Donna Marie Johnson passed away peacefully on October 10th, 2016 at the age of 86. 

Donna was born on March 14, 1930 in Turlock to Thomas and Nettie Mortimer.  She grew up and attended school there, graduating from Turlock High School.  

Donna married William (Bill) Johnson, a Deputy Sheriff for Stanislaus County, in 1951.  Donna held many jobs over the years before retiring from Turlock School District after many years as a teacher’s aide and substitute teacher.  She loved working with children, most specifically her grandchildren.  From school work, to art projects, to outdoor adventures, she spent a significant portion of her adult life with them. Donna was a talented artist, most specifically with her use of watercolors.  Some of the other activites she enjoyed were gardening, dancing, and spending time at her church, St. Francis Episcopal, where she made many life-long friends.  She was an amazing daughter, sister, wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, and friend.

Donna is survived by her brother William (Bud) Mortimer of Riverbank; son Tom Johnson of Bakersfield; daughter Cherlynn (Bob) Ferrel of Turlock; grandchildren Kurtis Johnson of Bakersfield; Spencer Johnson of Bakersfield; Kristopher (Corinne) Gouveia of Brentwood; Kenneth (Marissa) Gouveia of Cameron Park; Deanna (Gabe) Iobbi of Basel, Switzerland; Jessica (Seth) Thompson of Newport Beach; and Tracy Ferrel Montez of Roseville.  She is also survived by eight great-grandchildren and many nieces and nephews.  She was preceded in death by her parents Thomas and Nettie Mortimer; sister Pauline Mortimer Meyers; infant daughter Janelle Johnson; and husband of 52 years, William (Bill) Johnson.

Services will be held 10:00 a.m. Saturday, October 15, 2016 at the Grace Anglican Church, 180 S. Denair St., (corner Denair St. and Crane St.) in Turlock, CA.

A special thank you to the nurses and staff at Covenant Village for taking such wonderful care of our Donna.