Carol Johnson

Carol S. Johnson, age 101, passed away on April 22, 2015. Born on December 23, 1913 in Montague, Michigan to James and Emily (Jackson) Seaver, she was the oldest of ten children. She was raised on the family farm, started school in a one-room country school and in 1932 graduated as Valedictorian of her Montague High School Class. Carol loved music and as a young girl played the organ for church services.

Carol attended Miami-Jacobs Business College in Dayton, Ohio and later worked as secretary to the Publisher of the Dayton-Journal Herald newspaper where she met her future husband, Bervin Johnson. She and Bervin were married on August 20, 1939 at Carol’s parent’s farm in Montague and they were blessed with 59 years of life together. Carol and her husband Bervin raised their two sons, David and Bill, and for 17 years operated a freelance photography business in Whitehall, Michigan. As a business partner Carol waited on customers, prepared orders for delivery, retouched pictures, hand colored portraits as well as running the family home. After selling the photography business in 1965 they moved to East Lansing, Michigan where Bervin worked as Photographic Advisor for the Michigan State University State News and Carol proof read for the newspaper and worked for H&R Block. Upon retiring in 1975 they traveled throughout the United States including Alaska and Hawaii and also went on Airstream Caravans to British Columbia and Acapulco, Mexico. They eventually settled in Melbourne, Florida. Upon Bervin’s death in 1998 Carol moved to Ann Arbor and then in 2003 moved to Traverse City where she lived the reminder of her years.

Surviving are two sons, David (Judith) Johnson of Ann Arbor, William (Beverly) Johnson of Traverse City one brother, Calvin (Nadine) Seaver of Whitehall, seven grandchildren and fifteen great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her husband Bervin, infant son Charles Andrew, her parents James and Emily Seaver, brothers Clare Seaver, James Seaver, Martin Seaver, and Herbert Seaver and sisters, Doris Griffith, Lois Hering, Helen Newmyer and Barbara Seaver (infant).

The family wishes to thank the staff at Tendercare Traverse City for the wonderful care and friendship shown to Carol.

A graveside service will take place at Oak Grove Cemetery in Montague, Michigan at a later date. Please visit www.lifestorytc.com to sign the guest book and share a message with her family. Life Story Funeral Home, Traverse City.