Lelia Pearl Chelf Johnson, Osage City
OSAGE CITY
Lelia Pearl Johnson died Wednesday, Oct. 11, 2006, at Peterson Nursing Home in Osage City. She was 96.
Mrs. Johnson operated a Linotype machine for the former Journal-Free Press of Osage City for about 15 years and wrote a column, “Upper Smith Creek,” for the Press for more than 60 years. She also was a cook and waitress for several Osage City restaurants and was considered one of the “premiere pie bakes in the area.” She played the piano for silent movies, high school activities and at the Peterson Nursing Home until her death, she was named the Peterson Nursing Home Volunteer of the year for 1995. She and her husband, Elmer, were named Mr. and Mrs. Osage City in 1976.
The daughter of Philip Presley and Mary Elizabeth “Mae” Bickford Chelf, she was born Feb. 5, 1910, in Horton. She graduated from high school in Madrid, Neb., in 1927.
She married Elmer l. Johnson on March 7, 1928, in Topeka. They spent their entire married life in the Osage City area. He died Jan. 2, 1994.
Mrs. Johnson was a member of the Church of Christ in Osage City. She was a member of the Women’s Relief Corps (WRC) and the Circle Club. She was Republican Committeewoman for Grant Township.
She is survived by two sons, Gary Johnson of Manhattan and Lyle Johnson of Torrance, Calif.; one brother, Keneth Chelf of Omaha, Neb.; five grandchildren; seven great-grandchildren; and one great-great-granddaughter. A brother, Roy Chelf; and a sister, Nelma Groves, died earlier.
The funeral will be at 10:30 a.m. Saturday at the Church of Christ in Osage City. Burial will be at Union Cemetery in Osage City. Friends may call from 3 to 7 p.m. Friday at the VanArsdale Funeral Chapel at Osage City.
Memorial contributions to the Church of Christ for Children’s Home may be sent in care of the funeral home, 107 N. Sixth St., Osage City, KS 66523.