Til We Meet Again, Vanetta Johnson

Vanetta Johnson, mother of Anita Williams, slipped from mortality on Thursday, October 14 to return to her sweetheart Harold and her loving Heavenly Father. 87-year-old Vanetta was born and raised in Indiana where, as a young woman, she met a handsome Air Force captain and pilot on a blind date. Two months later, she became Mrs. Harold Johnson and the couple settled down together in Huntington, West Virginia.

In the southern United States, the Johnson’s yearned for a religion the entire family could embrace - a decision which lead them to the LDS Church where Harold served several years as a branch president. They wanted to be sealed, so they saved up to make the cross-country trip to Salt Lake City, only to find the temple closed. Not to be thwarted in their plans, they drove to Logan for the ceremony. Vanetta’s favorite calling was as YM/YW leader for the East Central States Mission which gave the couple the opportunity to travel together in Harold’s plane to meetings throughout Tennessee, Kentucky and West Virginia.

After Bruce and Anita returned from medical studies in Germany, Harold and Vanetta relocated to northern Utah where they served for several years in the Salt Lake Temple, then followed their daughter and son-in-law to St. George, again serving in the temple while continuing in their role as "active grandparents."

Throughout her lifetime, Vanetta’s favorite hobby was always "mothering," but she also excelled in bowling, oil painting, and water color art. According to Anita, her mother was "an excellent seamstress who made all my clothes when I was a child, has a wonderful eye for colors and fabrics and her porcelain dolls are incredible!!!”

Although Vanetta lost Harold - the love of her life - more than a decade ago, and her youngest son three years ago, Vanetta found peace in the gospel of Jesus Christ during difficult times and always referred to hers as "a great life!"

Condolences to the Williams’ family for their loss. Vanetta will be missed by those who knew and loved her.