Edith “Marie” Collins Johnson of Irrigon died on Sept. 23, 2020 in Hermiston at the age of 81.
She was born on Nov. 25, 1938 in La Boca, Colo. to Elmer George Cox and Edith Marie Johnson.
Marie, as most knew her, settled down and made her home in beautiful Union County, Oregon at the base of the Blue Mountains. Here, she would settle down and raise her four children until divorce forced her to relocate.
In 1988 she married George Arnold Johnson, and they made their home in Meacham. Many years were spent on the mountain making cherished memories of sledding, building snowmen, riding snowmobiles, swimming in the creek and picking huckleberries for huckleberry pancakes with her grandchildren.
She was an active member of the Salvation Army Church, the Eagles lodge, the American Legion Ladies Auxiliary and the VFW Auxiliary.
Upon the death of her husband, Mrs. Johnson relocated to Pendleton and later to Irrigon, where she lived with family until she was called home.
Mrs. Johnson enjoyed teaching the young children that visited how to play Chinese checkers or a good game of Aggravation. She loved playing solitaire, watching old western movies, reading books and gossiping with her many family members on the phone.
She is survived by her sons, Charles Elmer Collins of Alaska and Michael Wayne Collins of Pendleton; brothers, George Elmer Cox of Portland, Norman Eugene Cox of Vancouver, Wash., Henry “Hank” Wood Cox of Riddle and Walter John Cox of Roseburg; sisters, Donna Leona Cox and Mina Earlene Cox-South, both
of Pendleton; and numerous beloved grandchildren, great grandchildren, nieces and nephews.
Marie was preceded in death by her parents; husband, George Arnold Johnson; daughters, Marilyn Marie Collins-McBride and Evelyn Mildred Yaingelou; sisters, Doris Elvia Cox, Mary Ellen Cox Moody, Ruth Evelyn Cox Barret and Sarah Lavelle Cox.
A celebration of life gathering with state social distancing guidelines being followed will be held on Saturday, Oct. 17, 2020 at 11 a.m. at Roy Raley Park, 1205 S.W. Court Ave., Pendleton.
Please share memories of Marie with her family at burnsmortuaryhermiston.com.
Burns Mortuary of Hermiston is in care of arrangements.
