Beverly Ann Johnson, 87, of Gaylord, passed away Thursday, January 18, 2018 at McReynolds Hall.
Bev was born in Highland Park on June 5, 1930, the daughter of Harold “Bud” and Emma (Schenk) Seibert.
In 1950 she married Dale Johnson and soon after the couple purchased a two-story home with an attached gas station on the corner of US 27 and 4th Street in Gaylord.
From these humble beginnings the business now spans most of Northern Michigan known as Johnson Oil and has grown to include numerous gas stations/convenience stores, a quick lube oil change, a gas station/repair facility, an ice cream store, multiple automated diesel fueling stations, a propane division, The Ellison Place event center and more.
Bev and her husband were members and benefactors of the Gaylord Evangelical Free Church and generous supporters of the Otsego County Fair, The Alpenfest, 4-H, Otsego Memorial Hospital, SpringHill Camps (of Evart) and many other community programs.
Bev was preceded in death by her husband, Dale in 2004 and her granddaughter, Julianne in 2003.
She is survived by her sons, Steve (Debbie) and Kevin (Darce); grandchildren, Joshua (Samantha), Jada and Madison; great grandchildren, Dakota, Emma, Noa, Gracie and Bradley.
FUNERAL SERVICES will be held on Thursday, January 25, 2018 at 11:00 AM from the Gaylord Evangelical Free Church.
Visitation will be held at the Nelson Funeral Home and Cremation Service on Wednesday, January 24, 2018 from 4:00 PM until 8:00 PM. Visitation will continue Thursday, January 25, 2018 at the Gaylord Evangelical Free Church from 10:00 AM until the time of services.
Contributions in honor of Beverly Johnson may be made to SpringHill Camps, through the Nelson Funeral Home, PO Box 1548, Gaylord MI 49734.
21 comments on “Johnson, Beverly”
Here on earth are tears, but Heaven is celebrating Bev’s homecoming! As Jesus opens HIS arms to HIS “good and faithful servant”! Love and prayers to the Johnson Family. Jeff and Jody Dutcher
My condolences to the families, Beverly was a lovely and caring Lady.
My sincere condolences to the family.
My teen years are filled with lovely memories of Bev and her Lighthouse ministries. Thank you for vCard sharing her with the Gaylord community for so many years.
My sincere sympathy to the Johnson family …Bev was a sweetheart..always a nice word and a hug for everyone..
I will always remember Beverly as a hugger. She was one of the first people I met when I first joined the E Free Church. She always had a hug for those folks that she cared about. God Bless.
My thoughts and prayers are with all the Johnson Family. I remember well when your folks lived in the house and gas station, both of them were very fine people and hard workers, The community has lost another of its pillars of many years. RIP Bev!
My thoughts and prayers are with the family and friends. Beverly was always a sweet and lovely person.
My sincere sympathy to the Johnson family. Prayers to you, Steve and Kevin.
Our sincere thoughts to the Johnson Family. When my mother passed in 1992, Bev, a neighbor at the time, offered one of her famous hugs and with sincerity said she was praying for our family, I learn then and many times thereafter, she truly met what she said. Bev would seek out those in stress and in her own special way make whom ever it was, sometimes a total stranger, feel a bit better. The Gaylord community and her many friends have been fortunate to have Beverly Johnson walk among us. Hugs to Heaven and I am praying for you.
Thoughts and prayers for the family. She was a kind and sweet lady. There will be a reunion in heaven I’m sure.
My condolences to the family, Bev was a wonderful lady.
Thoughts and prayers to Steve, my sister Debbie and all the Johnson family. Bev was one special lady,she was always happy when I would see her in a store. She had a beautiful smile on her face every time you would see her. She was one kind lady and her hugs meant the world to me. She will be missed.
I lived next door to the Johnson’s from 1976 to the mid 1980’s, in the late 1990’s between Gaylord and the western states. When I was home, Beverly was always there with a smile, greeting, or some other words of wisdom which would always brighten my day. As a child, I grew up with one of the nicest and caring neighbors anyone could imagine! Beverly Johnson was, to me, one of the stalwart bastions of my youth; outside my family circle, I remember her as a person who always desired the best of anyone for me. In her own remembered words, Beverly would always say to me: “I want you to find someone you can love, honor, respect, and trust.” I wish I could have found that person, and been with them as long as she was with Dale, or my own parents, or their parents. (It seems to be a lost art.) I leave this message for everyone in Gaylord to see, and to say that Beverly shall always Be remembered By Stephen Andrew Brown, late of Lead, South Dakota! Love and Light, Beverly! Catch A Star For Us All!
One of the very first families we met when coming to Gaylord way back in 1983 was the Johnson family. And the one thing I never forgot was the hug I received from Bev (alias The Happy Hugger)Bev filled a void for me after my mom passed in 1983 till the day she went home! Her kind and gentle spirit brought so much joy to everyone she met! There is no doubt she will be missed but there’s no better joy in the hope of knowing for sure we’ll see her again!
Onward and Upward is the call! Pat and Carol Scott
Our sincere condolences to the Johnson family.
May the many happy memories you have help to bring you all an inner peace as you share them with friends and family.. Hold those memories close to your hearts.
Sincere blessings and prayers to the family.
Wayne & Lynda Carpenter
Rest in peace Mrs.Johnson.
Kevin,
Sorry to hear about the passing of your mother. You and your family have my condolences.
Bev generously gave of herself to everyone she came in contact with. She embodied the second commandment “To love thy neighbor as thyself.”
Her kind and sweet spirit was a gift cherished by many. We can only imagine the homecoming she had waiting for her, busloads of
people that welcomed her home. It was surely a sight to behold in the heavens. Especially when she received her hug of all hugs from the One she served so faithfully.
Love to all of the Johnson family,
Bob and Joy Volant
Beverly Johnson was one of the first to introduce me to the Lord: I can remember going to her house back in 1969 as a 12 year old neighbor and having her teach me and Kevin Smitter the bible; She was a good bible teacher and I could tell she was very sincere and filled with a love of God! She always had a hug for me and always talked about the Lord!! The Lord welcomes her into his kingdom where she can join the Saints in beholding the face of God and the paradise that entails!!
My condolences to the Johnson family. I’m sorry to hear of your mother’s passing. Please know that you’re in our thoughts and prayers during this difficult time.
So sorry to hear of Bev’s passing. She was a special lady to so many. I spent many Thursday evenings at her home when she held weekly Lighthouse prayer meetings. She was a mother in the faith to me and to many others in the 70’s.To Steve, Kevin and families…I am so sorry for your loss. May the Lord be with you in the coming days, and may you savor the sweet memories of times with her.