Ruth Delores (Garey) Johnson

It is with great sadness the family of Ruth Delores Garey Johnson announces her passing at her home in Thornville after a brief illness at 1:30 p.m. on Tuesday, May 15, 2018 at the age of 92 surrounded by her family. Ruth was born April 27, 1926, the youngest of eleven children of Willard and Bertha (Davis) Garey. She was a proud graduate of Junction City-Jackson High School and a life-long resident of Perry and Franklin Counties. She was the owner and operator of Green Thumb Gardens in Thornville and a dairy farmer for many years. She was a founding member of the Extension Homemakers in Perry County and a Charter member of the Heritage Homemakers in Somerset. She received the Perry County Extension Homemaker of the Year Award in 2004. She served as a volunteer advisor for the Lads and Lassies 4-H Club for nearly 20 years. She was an active member of the 4-H and Extension Advisory Committees, serving at the county, district and state level as a representative for Perry County. Ruth was an avid card player; she loved Euchre and 500 Rummy. She played Euchre at the Perry County Senior Center in New Lexington and AmVets in Thornport. Ruth enjoyed hosting family dinners, gardening, bird watching, sewing, crocheting, needle crafts, jigsaw puzzles, crossword puzzles and reading. Preceding her in death were her parents and her husband, Herman Wilson Johnson (1985); a daughter, Mary Lou Briggs (2012); a son, John Thomas Johnson (2009) a daughter, Janice Anita Hammond (2017); and her siblings, Belle, Helen, Ruby, Hazel, Guy, Lou, Ray, Kate, Gladys and Marie. Surviving are her children, Robert Lee Johnson of New Albany, Deanna “Kathy” Johnson of Columbus; James Andrew (Cheryl) Johnson of Thornville; Cynthia Rae (Joe) Shuster of Somerset; sons-in-law, Gene “Bud” Briggs of New Albany and Tracy Hammond of Thornville; daughter-in-law, Sally Johnson of Blacklick; 15 grandchildren, Cindy Briggs Allegretti, Julie Briggs, Kim Briggs Otten, Nicole Briggs, Robert Johnson, J.T. Johnson, Cassandra Johnson Brandemihl, Kelsey Johnson, Lacey Johnson, Scott Johnson, Katie Johnson Tomblin, Joseph Johnson, Sarah Johnson, Kristie Hammond and Angela Hammond; 10 great-grandchildren and numerous extended family members. Friends may call from 2-4 and 6-8 p.m. Friday, May 18, 2018 at the Bope-Thomas Funeral Home in Somerset and one hour prior to the service at the church. Services will be held at 10:00 a.m. Saturday, May 19, 2018 at the Olivet Church of the Brethren, Thornville with Pastor Bob Ray officiating. Burial will follow in Somerset Cemetery. Memorial contributions may be made to FairHoPe Hospice and Palliative Care, Inc., 282 Sells Rd., Lancaster, Ohio 43130. www.bopethomasfuneralhome.com

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