Ruby May Holladay Johnson Obituary (1922 - 2020)

Ruby May Holladay Johnson October 25, 1922 - January 16, 2020 At last, on January 16, 2020 our sweet devoted mother, Ruby May Holladay Johnson, returned to her Heavenly Home and into the arms of her waiting sweetheart, Russell D Johnson, whom she married 80 years ago, in Boise, on October 14, 1939. They were sealed, not just for this mortal journey, but for all of eternity on December 27, 1946, in the Idaho Falls Temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He preceded her on April 2, 2012 ~ she has long missed him. Mom was born October 25, 1922 in Nampa, Idaho, the eighth of 14 children born to David Earl and Martha Loretta Ellsworth Holladay. She dearly loved her siblings; they were her best friends. Her youngest brother, Dan Glen Holladay and his sweet wife, Joy of Las Vegas survive her. We wish we could have witnessed her ultimate joy when once again, after 68 long years, she embraced her little boy, Benny (Benjamin D Johnson, 1943-1952), this was the best day of her life--so far! Brothers and sisters who preceded her were: Parnell and Regina Holladay, Vidella (infant), Lamar and Wanda Holladay, Joe and Lillian Holladay, Lilly and Harold Hower, Dixie and Henry Winston, Vernal and Hun Holladay, Jack (Iwo Jima), (Ester), Pearl Noble (John), Verna and Alan Newby, Marjorie and Deloy Armstrong, and Donna Jean (infant). Waiting their turn for her embrace was her grandson Daniel Dallin Floyd (2001) and her son-in-law Dennis Allen Mower (2012). Moving frequently between Salt Lake City and the Nampa/Kuna area, and living for a time in a cottage in Kurtz Park, the Holladay family continually struggled to make ends meet. Mother's childhood perception was always that "the best was yet to come". That thought remained with her up to the end and she was right! Mother had incredible compassion for "the least of these" not just for people but animals, too. She had an uncommon gift of healing and making them feel at home in her home. She loved the outdoors and her garden. Her yard looked like a park and her canning shelves were full from her labors. She was generous with her abundance. She chronicled her life in stories and poems and sometimes art. She wrote with humor and honesty. Her writings reflected the innocence and hope of a little girl in simpler but difficult times. Mom taught her kids how to work, insisting always upon the best performance. We well remember how she entertained with silly dancing and songs--sometimes she made-up forgotten lyrics. Admittedly, we have sung the same songs to our children and grandchildren--with a little silly dancing. She had blue eyes and loved the color red. Mother was a beautiful woman. She loved and is loved by her Savior, Jesus Christ. Her testimony of the Gospel of Jesus Christ and His Atonement was steadfast and immovable. "Know that all these things shall give thee experience and shall be for thy good." Dementia has made it a long good-bye. With all our hearts, Mom, we thank you and love you for enduring to the end. Until we meet again you will be missed by Beverly Mower of Meridian, Rena and Ted McBride of LaVerkin, UT, Linda and Ken Roetto of Nampa, Brenda and Terry Floyd, Rome, Italy, Rick and Deb Johnson and Reid and Brenda Johnson both of Melba; 38 grandchildren, 118 great-grandchildren and 17 great-great-grandchildren. It would delight mom if we wore a variety of bright colors at her funeral. It would make her smile-just like her flower gardens. We humbly thank the Uintah Basin Senior Villa in Roosevelt, UT, who tenderly and lovingly cared for mother in her last years. Rena's family and their devotion to her care will never be forgotten, as well as the care that was loving given by Brenda and Terry Floyd & Rick and Debbie Johnson.