Ruth Johnson

RUTH JOHNSON Memorial services for lifelong Nucla resident Ruth Johnson will be held at 11 a.m. on Thursday, August 12 at the Union Congregational Church in Nucla, Co. Interment will be at the Nucla Cemetery, followed by a celebration of life at the Nucla Moose Lodge. Ruth Esther Johnson was born August 17, 1925, in Nucla, Colo., to Gertrude Irene (Tschop) and Fred Chester Sly. She died August 9, 2010, at The Valley Inn in Mancos, Colorado. Her early years were spent in Nucla. She attended high school in Glenwood Springs and Nucla and graduated from Nucla High School in 1943. She went on to school in Grand Junction, Colo., where she obtained a secretarial degree. She married James Kenneth Johnson on June 12, 1944, and spent most of her life in Colo. She was a wife, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother. She was very proud to be a rancher's wife and knew as much about ranching as most ranchers. Gardening was a passion, not just a way to fill up idle hours. The colorful patchwork of canned vegetable jars lining the shelves filled her heart with pride, and throughout the winter - our stomachs. She loved to read, write poetry, sing, and play cards; and how she loved this part of the state. She spent many hours picnicking in the cedars and often stated that, when she died, she'd like to be placed under a cedar tree in God's County. She had a great sense of humor and loved to laugh and frequently got "weak in the knees" doing just that. Her quick wit and smiles will be missed by all who knew her. She loved to call her children in the early morning hours on weekends, because she knew they would be at home. It was a good plan except for the timing of the call. A 4:00 a.m. call, Mountain Standard Time, to California, Idaho, or Alaska could have varying degrees of acceptance. Her reply never varied, however, "You're up now!" Her children miss those calls. She leaves behind her husband, James Kenneth Johnson of Nucla; son Derrill Lee Johnson of Cortez, Colo. daughters Jami Sue McCaleb of Tracy, Calif., and Sara Johnson of Twin Falls, Ida.; sisters Freda Swain of Montrose, Colo., Evla Shoultz of Bellevue, Colo., and Irva Stokes of Green Valley, Ariz.; Grandchildren Kelly Ross, Kate Iman, Luke Lindley, and Curt Lindley; great-grandchildren Colton and Tanner Ross, David, Thomas, and Lauren Iman; and many nephews and nieces. She was preceded in death by her parents, Gertrude and Fred Sly; sisters Kathleen Wares, Violet Haskell, Irene Joseph and brother Chester Sly. In lieu of flowers, please make contributions in Ruth's name to a charity of your choice.