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JOHNSON, JEAN MARIE of Socorro, NM passed away on September 16, 2012 at Presbyterian Hospital in Albuquerque, NM surrounded by numerous loved ones. She was 77 years old. Jean was born on Sept 5, 1935 in Warren, PA to Darryl Victor and Ruth Nelson. She was raised on a farm in Pennsylvania with her two sisters and a brother and had wonderful stories of going to school in a one room school house and being raised in the country. After graduating from High School she and a girlfriend took a bus to New Mexico in 1953, when her father got a job working as a machinist at Los Alamos National Laboratory. After moving she worked as a waitress at Dragon Drugs where she met her husband, Joe Johnson. After a two month courtship they were married on August 20, 1955 in Los Alamos, NM where they lived for 19 years. In 1974 they moved to Jemez Mountains, NM and lived there for 9 years. In 1985 they moved to their lake house at Elephant Butte Lake, NM where they lived for 5 years until they moved to Socorro, NM. Her priorities in life were her family and friends of which she had many. Her life and love affected so many people from many different backgrounds, cultures and nationalities. She never knew a stranger and everyone that she ever met walked away with a feeling of unconditional love and acceptance. So many people remember her unbelievable hospitality and her famous green chili. No one ever left her home hungry. She was always, as the song goes, "A Good Hearted Woman in Love with a Good Timing Man." Thank God! But through all the years Jean remained a lady and no one can dispute that fact. Jean was predeceased by her parents, Darryl V. Nelson who passed away on Sept 2, 1988, her mother, Ruth D. Nelson who passed away on Dec 31, 2001 and her identical twin sister, Janet Mitchell who passed away on Dec. 7, 1999. She is survived by her husband, Joseph J. Johnson of the family home, her daughter, Carol Caldwell and her husband Lucky of San Acacia, NM, her son, Joseph D. Johnson and his wife, Cathy of Socorro, NM, her daughter, Susan Stephens of Lewisville, TX; grandsons, Lucky Lew Caldwell (her caretaker) of the family home, Joseph Johnson of WA and Jesse Stephens of Flower Mound, TX; granddaughters, Amanda Darras of San Acacia, NM, Virginia Powell of CA, Elizabeth Johnson of Tulsa, OK, Marie Hanley of Marysville, WA, Jeanne Stephens of Lewisville, TX; great-grandchildren, Kalynn and Tyler Darras, Dominic Kuhn, Carina Powell, Joseph and Michael Johnson, Alexis and Cody Hanley and Aaliyah Andrew-Stephens. She also raised nine other boys, though not blood, but her sons nonetheless; Neal Hopwood of OR, Chris Lee of CO, Roger Smith of TX, Eddie Brow (deceased), her nephew, Lloyd "Little Mutt" Mitchell Jr. of NM, Andrew Fowner of NM, Les Roberts of NM and Michael "Cowboy" Hazelhof of Germany. Her sister Darlene Mitchell and her husband Bob of Espanola, NM and her brother Bill Nelson and his wife, Karen of Carlsbad, NM. She also leaves behind a host of nephews, nieces, family and friends. She is also survived by her dog, Bones, her saving grace whom she held dear and last but not least her numerous dishrags. A Celebration of her Life will be held at the family home in Escondida, NM on September 22, 2012 at 11:00am. ALL are welcome to attend. Food will be provided. For more information call Carol Caldwell at (575) 418-7160 or Susan Stephens at (940) 580-0059. Please visit our online guestbook www.danielsfuneral.com. "GREAT LIFE IF YOU DON'T WEAKEN" - famous quote by Jean Johnson that she lived by.
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