Georgia Mae Johnson

Georgia Mae Patton was born November 22, 1957 in Austin, Minnesota. She was the second-born child of L.C. "Pat" and Darlene M. (Hutson) Patton. She was raised along with her three siblings at 2907 West 87 ½ Street in Bloomington, Minnesota. It was here she began her lifelong journey of caring for and providing for others, learning to sew her own clothes and baking loaves of sourdough bread every Saturday morning. She sang and played the guitar while she cared for younger siblings, Nora and Dan, after her mother was diagnosed with breast cancer. Her siblings describe her as the peacemaker hippie with a heart of gold-creative, loving, free spirited, goofy, and smart. She attended Washburn and Hillcrest Elementary Schools, Penn Junior High School and was a 1975 graduate of Lincoln Senior High School. She left home at 17 and lived on her own, first baking pies at a Betty Crocker Pie Shop. She lived frugally in downtown Minneapolis while she worked her way through college as a nursing assistant. A budding Anglophile, after finishing undergrad at the University of Minnesota in three years, she took a significant solo trip to England. She went on to graduate school, earning double master's degrees in social work and public health. Always socially progressive, her younger brother recalled that when she was in grad school the only time he could see and talk to her was to walk next to her as she marched in a rally for women's rights. After graduating she worked as a social worker specializing in psychiatric counseling. In 1982 she received a phone call from a guy wanting to talk to her roommate Wendy who she thought "sounded stupid". After five years of dating and helping each other through the loss of her mom and his dad, she married Doug Johnson on September 26, 1987 at one of their favorite places alongside the Mississippi River. She paused her career and devoted herself to raising her children and several dogs in the South Minneapolis "starter home" she bought with Doug in 1986 and lived in for the next 30 years. Forever frugal, she bragged about her ability to make a meal to feed a family for less than $1 per person. She baked amazing Challah and other breads, made home-made Play-Doh, sewed clothes, and was a trusted friend and support to many other young mothers in the neighborhood. As her children got older, she was able to devote herself to numerous pursuits and passions: sewing, quilting, knitting, and perhaps most importantly, caring for others. She was an active member of St. Peder's Lutheran Church, delivering Meals on Wheels along with her mother-in-law, serving on the church council, and taking several mission trips to Bangladesh. She never shied away from emotional challenges, once organizing a group of quilters to make quilts for children in hospice. Her big heart, brave spirit and irreverent sense of humor were gifts to everyone around her. She had a boisterous laugh that started with a cackle and lasted forever. In 2006 she faced breast cancer with her unique brand of optimism and humor, declaring on her Facebook profile, "Double mastectomies: Freedom from bras forever!!" Georgia had an amazing ability to connect with others and was incredibly perceptive and observant. She later returned to her career in nursing homes and psychiatric care, earning her Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker certification. Always calm in a crisis, she found her purpose in her work as an emergency room social worker, ending her career at Regions Hospital. She was a curious person and expansive thinker, and she sought meaning in exploring her deep faith and strong sense of spirituality, eventually converting to Sufi Islam. Her strength of spirit cannot be overstated. Georgia had a love for life and embraced it with every breath. Beginning in 2018, her long battle with pancreatic cancer was further complicated by strokes. She bravely faced multiple surgeries and rounds of chemotherapy and radiation, fighting as hard as she could for each extra day on this planet with her friends and family, especially beloved grandson, Hans. Not only did she survive, but she made the most of each day. She spent her final years enjoying walks and observing nature, discovering new interests, and keeping Doug in line. She passed away peacefully surrounded by her family on Wednesday, October 11, 2023 at Our Lady of Peace Hospice in Saint Paul, Minnesota at the age 65. She was preceded in death by her parents and sister, Nora Patton. She is survived by her husband of 36 years, Doug Johnson; children, Kelsey (Max Ritts) Johnson, Ellis Johnson, and Spencer Patton; grandson, Hans Jacob Johnson-Ritts; brothers Patrick (Suzanne) Patton and Daniel (Susan) Patton; and many nieces, nephews, godchildren, and friends. A funeral service will be held Monday, October 16th at 11 am with visitation one hour prior to the service at St. Peder's Lutheran Church, 4600 E 42nd St, Minneapolis. For those unable to join in person, the service will be live-streamed on the St. Peder's YouTube channel, https://www.youtube.com/@st.pederslutheranchurch1813/streams Memorials may be directed to Our Lady of Peace Hospice, 2076 St Anthony Ave, St Paul, MN 55104.

Tributes

Georgia Mae Johnson

November 22, 1957 - October 11, 2023

Tributes

Georgia Mae Johnson

November 22, 1957 - October 11, 2023

We are here for you 24x7

Call us and get help now

(612) 377-2203