Grace Marie Johnson

WEAVERVILLE – Grace Marie Montani Johnson, age 89, passed away on July 15, 2024, after a short stay at The Greens in Weaverville. Here she received excellent attention in addition to the support of the Hospice staff provided by Compassionate Care of Burnsville. We humbly extend our heartfelt gratitude to each individual involved in her sacred journey home. Prior to this, Grace lived for the past year at beautiful Mars Hill Manor where she enjoyed a spacious apartment surrounded by her own furnishings and family pictures as well as a number of caregivers devoted to the safety and well-being of Miss Grace, including Legacy Therapy.

Grace was born on July 5, 1935, in Indianapolis, IN to Ferdinand V. and Josephine R. Montani. She grew up in an Italian-American home whose devotion to faith, family and hard work was evident. She graduated from Arsenal Technical High School in 1953, then worked in the office of L.S. AYERS & COMPANY Department Store in downtown Indianapolis. While there she met and dated a handsome man by the name of Ira Eugene Johnson who had returned from serving in the Korean Conflict. 

Gene and Grace were married on January 4, 1956, for nearly 57 years, until his passing on New Years Day 2013. Their long marriage took them to Greensboro, NC in 1970, after Gene became a salesman for Balkamp Inc., a supplier of NAPA Auto Parts. There in NC they raised their 2 children and enjoyed many wonderful friendships plus lovely vacations to the Mountains and Beaches of NC. A highlight for Grace was designing the floorplan used to build their own house, then landscaping their expansive yard with dozens of azaleas in addition to countless annuals, perennials, birdhouses, feeders and adornments, creating a gorgeous view each season from their sunporch. Gene’s vegetable garden was famous throughout the neighborhood for its great bounty.

Grace stayed very busy . . . working with her flowers, of course, sewing (making dolls which were sold at a local Toy Store), interior painting (even ceilings!), wall papering, reupholstering and refinishing furniture, decorating, plus cooking – especially when family members from Indiana came to visit. She was generous, independent, stubborn, talented, creative, loving, kind and full of laughter. She was an amazing wife, mother, and grandmother and looked forward to hearing about the latest adventures of her 3-year-old great-grandson, Mav. She always had time to talk on the phone and loved staying in touch with family, catching up on everything that everyone was involved in. Her friendships were strong and lasting. 

Grace was a long-time member of St. Therese Little Flower Parish in Indianapolis, then later St. Pius X Catholic Church in Greensboro. Recently, her handwritten statement of faith was found, placing her trust in Jesus Christ as her personal Savior and asking Him to come inside her heart.

In addition to her beloved husband and parents, she is preceded in death by her infant sister, Mary, older brothers Guy and Joe Montani, and brother-in-law Sonny Bowers. Surviving are her son Richard Johnson and his wife Amanda of Burlington, her daughter, Terri Edwards and her husband Mike of Asheville, siblings Celia Bowers of Indianapolis, Nick Montani and his wife Deborah of Indianapolis and Julie Kramer and her husband Bill of Greenwood, IN; her grandchildren, Meghan Moody and her husband Shawn of Cary, Ryan Johnson and Jess Humphrey of Cary, Aaron Johnson of Greensboro and Sara Edwards of Asheville; plus her great-grandson Maverick Moody of Cary, her dear friend Adeline Becknell of Greensboro and many nieces and nephews.

A Visitation is planned at West Funeral Home in Weaverville, NC for Wednesday, July 17 from 5-6:30pm.

From that point, A Visitation in Greensboro is planned from 12:00-1:00pm on Friday, July 19, followed by a service in the Sedgefield Chapel of Hanes Lineberry Funeral Home located at 6000 Gate City Blvd. Burial will take place immediately afterward nearby at Guilford Memorial Park.

Flowers are appreciated. Donations in her Memory may be made to The Gideons International PO Box 2292, Weaverville, NC 28787, or to Compassionate Care Hospice of WNC 856 Georges Fork Road Burnsville, NC 28714.