Geraldine B. Johnson

Mrs. Geraldine "Geri" Johnson passed away on Wednesday, January 11, 2012 in Denver, Colorado. She was born on January 17, 1929 in Detroit, Mi. She is survived by her four children, many grandchildren, great grandchildren and great great grandchild. She is also survived by her two sisters, one brother and many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her husband William T. Johnson Sr., five sisters and her parents William H Broyles Sr. and Anna Crump Broyles.

I remember early in my life thinking how much vitality my mom had. Independent and nurturing to me and my sisters and brother. Truly a unique figure in my eyes. She had a competitive edge about her and loved the outdoors.
As an ice skater at Belle Isle and Palmer parks, she had visions of the Olympics. She believed no goal was too lofty. Her professional career as a Full time cytologist and homemaker seem to emulate this.
She personally involved me in sports like tennis, baseball, ice skating, bowling and running, contributing incites in each. Some might say that's a bit difficult seeing that my Mom was left handed and I was not. She didn't seem to mind.
Sports became a large part of my life. Oddly, my mom had never seen me play my favorite sport of basketball. While in the Navy, I made the all Navy team two years in a row. This might have been because while I was stationed away from home, She and my Dad were deeply involved in raising my Brother Stephan to do his best in academics as well as in the sport of his choosing. I was pleased to see my brother experience that kind of support from my Mom and Dad as I had. I'm proud of my brother.

I had no problem pointing and telling people that that person was my Mom.
I'm going to miss that.
Bye Mom !!!
Bill Jr.

The following poem was a favorite of my mom's. I believe it gives a peek into her core; a vulnerability and need for spiritual strength. My mom never realized how strong she was; or how capable. Mom was spirited, creative, gentle and kind. Her humor was infectious, her nature generous. Best of all, she had endless patience with those anxious to learn. My mom's heart was big and she oftentimes displayed a childish delight in life's simplest pleasures. I am proud that she was my mother, but I will miss her greatly.

Love you Mom.
Shirley

Hold My Hand by Dr. Shelia B. Myers

Hold my hand, I need you here beside me.
Be my guide and lead me to the stars.
I am small, without you I may stumble,
Lose my way or not get there at all.

I need you, you need me but I know
One day we'll go our separate ways.

But for now, hold my hand, each day I'm getting wiser,
And I know I'll soon be on my way. But I will remember,
I will remember when you held my hand,
when you held my hand.


It was late summer in '65, and we were on our way home from camping in Canada. Dad and the others were in the lead vehicle some ways ahead of us on the Queens Highway. A rain storm was brewing.

I was in the follow-up car with Mom and Steph when the storm hit full force. The rear driver side tire blew. Mom controlled that car like a pro on the rain slicked road. I remember screaming and grabbing her arm. She parked safely on the shoulder of the road, caught her breath, assured me we were not dying and got out of the car and opened the trunk. We had CB radios in those days - - she taught me how to use it to let Dad know what happened.
My Mom changed that tire in the pouring down driving rain, in the dark, on the side of a two lane road out in the middle of nowhere. I held an umbrella trying to protect her but the wind blew it away. I held onto the flashlight though, and that was all she needed she told me. "And stay close to the car", so I wouldn't get blown away by the cars going by. No one stopped to help.

I will never forget the look on her face, the strength and fortitude she exhibited and the determination to successfully rescue us and see us home safely.

Thanks Mom, for giving me an appreciation of "little things" - - the smaller the better.
Thanks for assuring me I could be the best at whatever I wanted to be, even if it was a bum.
Thanks for saying "If everyone jumped off a cliff, would you do it too?"
Thank you for teaching me to be of service to others.
And thank you for changing that tire that night.
What it taught me resounds in my life.

I love you Mom.
See you then.
Marilyn
Lynn
Manahan

Writing about Mom in a summary is difficult through tears of memories but I did my best:

My Mom was many things to me and reason for most of my beliefs about life. To her there was no task to tall, limitations were self-imposed and can't is not defined in the dictionary. Not hers. Mom was many things to everyone and felt the world was to big not to share. Mom may have disciplined me with a heavy hand when I deserved it, never did it affect me as I proudly introduced her to everyone I associated with. Growing up she was not addressed as Mrs. Johnson by my friends but by all as "Mom".
Regardless her age Mom believed she was always young at heart. Her favorite quote "I refused to grow up except between 9 to 5!".

Mom had a strong belief one day the world would get along as one and tried to live that example often befriending anyone she came in contact with. Mom was proud of her family often telling new found friends of her children, grandchildren, their accomplishments and never forgetting to include stories of Dad. I often envied my Brother and Sisters growing up close in age as I brought up the rear being many years behind. Mom filled many rolls with me while cushioning my depression of feeling like the only child as they matured and left to live their own separate lives. I'm thankful to my brother for the many life lessons he taught me, he will always be my idle. To this day I approach tough situations thinking "how would Billy do it". My sisters are responsible for the respect, courtesy and admiration I have for women, when asked how I became this person by others I often respond "I have sisters"!

Though my parents didn't get to experience my brother and sisters activities as much as they did mine, I was often reminded "my family would be proud" which inspired me to do my best. When I reached my life's dream of professional racing, Mom in congratulating me, spoke of Dad, my brother and sisters and always teaching, pointed out reasons why we make sacrifices in life. Never lose sight of your dreams she often said.

Mom loved all and so much wanted all to love her. With my mom the last cookie on her plate was meant for you.
Love you Mom,
#4

Cremation has taken place with a memorial gathering to be arranged at a later date.