Mary Jane Johnson

Mary “Jane” (McNamara) Johnson, 85, of Gilson, Illinois went to be with the Lord on Sat., Oct. 23, 2010 at her home. She was born March 7, 1925, in Chicago, IL, the daughter of John Dale and Hazel Elizabeth McNamara.  She grew up in Greene Township, Mercer Co.  She graduated from Aledo High School in 1942.  On January 19, 1946, she married Richard Elof Johnson, he survives.  She is also survived by two sons Richard Eric (Carline) Johnson, Maquon, IL; Norman Lee Johnson, Williamsfield, IL; one daughter Joyce (Kevin) Scholl, Wyoming, IL; five grandsons, one granddaughter and two great-grandsons.  She was preceded by a daughter-in-law, Jan Johnson. She was active at the local, state and federal levels concerning land and water preservation issues.  She was a founding member of several citizen organizations including Spoon River Watershed Project, Citizens for the Preservation of Knox County, Legal Aid Society, Prairie Woods Environmental Coalition, Citizens Organizing Project; as well as active involvement with Citizens Coal Council, Sierra Club, Rice Lake Conservation. Assn., Galesburg Historical Society, League of Women Voters, Knox County Peace and Justice Coalition, Illinois Stewardship Alliance(Illinois South Project), F.A.R.M and C.A.L.M. and former Knox County Board Member. Her 30 year effort to protect prime farmland was instrumental in her receiving an Honorary Degree from Knox College in 2002. She had been a member of the Dahinda United Methodist Church where she served many years as the MYF youth leader, she worked as a secretary for the Oak Run Property Assn. Visitation will be Tuesday, October 26, 2010 from 4 to 7 p.m. at Watson Funeral Home, Galesburg.  Family graveside service will be Wednesday at Aledo City Cemetery, Aledo.  Memorials may be made to the Williamsfield Ambulance Service, OSF Hospice, or to the family.  Funeral Arrangements have been entrusted to Watson Funeral Home, Galesburg.