Obituary of R. Alberta Johnson

R. Alberta Johnson peacefully passed away Easter morning, April 12, 2009, with the same dignity and strength with which she had lived. Bert was a truly remarkable mother, grandmother, teacher and friend. Her prayers continuously supported her family, friends and each child she felt privileged to teach. Bert loved Jesus. She was blessed with a generous spirit and a heartfelt love for others. It was so appropriate for this woman of deep faith to meet her Lord and Savior on Easter morning. She is now experiencing the overwhelming love of Jesus and praising and glorifying God with the angels and multitudes of heaven. Bert, the second of nine children, was born in Steele, Mo., Aug. 31, 1929. At an early age, her family moved to Southern California. A bright and diligent student, Bert skipped two grade levels and graduated from Colton High School at age 16. Following high school, Bert attended Los Angeles Pacific College (now Azusa Pacific) for two years, lettering in basketball and serving as president of the Associated Women Students, president of Theta Sigma, and class vice president. Bert transferred to Seattle Pacific College where she was a cheerleader for a year and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Language and Literature, with English emphasis, in 1950. Shortly after graduation, Bert and her college sweetheart, Royal Johnson, were married in Hollywood, Calif., on the television show, Wedding Bells. Over the years, it has been a delight of her family to play 78 LPs of the wedding ceremony. A first teaching assignment took Bert and Royal to Republic, Wash., where Bert taught second grade. After two years, the couple moved to Kelso. Bert initially taught in several elementary schools in Kelso, but spent the vast majority of her career teaching first grade at Butler Acres Elementary School, until she retired in 1986. A gifted teacher, Bert was renowned for her ability to teach anyone to read. Berts students particularly loved her drawing and art lessons. Berts ability to maintain discipline in her classroom was amazing. A description of Bert found in her college yearbook may explain how she commanded her students attention in class - she had eyes that could speak even though her tongue was silent. Undoubtedly, her fervent prayers for her students also contributed to the mutual respect they shared. After retiring from full-time teaching, Bert served as a substitute teacher in Kelso for almost 20 years. In over 40 years of teaching in Kelso, Bert touched the minds, hearts and lives of well over a thousand students. Bert was preceded in death by her husband of 56 years, Royal Johnson. She leaves behind three children, Jeff (Katherine), Deborah Happy de Carrera (Fabian) and Kelly (Yasmin). She has five grandchildren whom she dearly loved, Brian Johnson (Holly), Christopher Happy, AnaLisa Gerbig (Alex), Karin Johnson and Rumi Johnson. She was also blessed with two great-grandchildren, Andrew Gerbig and Cooper Johnson. A memorial service for Bert will be held at 4 p.m. Tuesday at Calvary Community Church, 2655 38th Ave., in Longview. Contributions in Berts honor may be sent to the Kelso School Foundation, Samaritans Purse, or Compassion International.