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Dorris Matthews Johnson died on September 18, 2009 at University Hospital in Albuquerque at age 89. She was born in Casco, Missouri, grew up in Beaufort, and graduated from Southeast Missouri State Teachers College in Cape Girardeau. After teaching in a one-room schoolhouse and serving as a sergeant in the U.S. Navy Waves during World War II, she earned a Master's degree in early childhood education from the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville. It was there that, on a blind date, she met her future husband, Joseph E. Johnson, a doctor for the Veterans Administration. He died in 2001. In 1959 they and their four children, George, David, Joe, and Mary, moved to Albuquerque where she became director of the Congregational Kindergarten and taught the first classes on early childhood education at the University of New Mexico. She was the first president of the New Mexico Association for the Education of Young Children and was especially proud of her work with the pueblos for the Head Start program. Dorris enjoyed spending weekends with her family at the Johnson cabin in Seven Springs and caring for her small herd of box turtles. She is survived by her four children; nine grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren. A memorial service, date to be announced, will be held at the National Cemetery in Santa Fe. Donations in her memory can be made to the N.M. Association for the Education of Young Children, www.nmaeyc.org, (505) 243-5437.
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