Maryann Rowe Hoyt Johnson

A celebration of life was Saturday for long-time Carson Valley resident Maryann Rowe Hoyt Johnson, 68, who died June 15, 2009, at Carson-Tahoe Regional Medical Center in Carson City.

Mrs. Johnson was born Aug. 17, 1940, in Nebraska to Edwin and Evelyn Rowe. The family moved to Elliot, Iowa, while she was still a baby. She was raised on the farm in Iowa and graduated from Griswold High School in 1958.

After graduation, she moved to be with her older sister Darlene in the San Francisco Bay area, where she met and married Charles Hoyt.

After Mr. Hoyt died, she moved to Gardnerville where she married Floyd Johnson in 1978. When Mr. Johnson died, she became a friend and companion to Ralph Ellis, who died in January.

Mrs. Johnson worked as a loan processor for two different banks, sold cosmetics, catered events, and helped whenever someone needed a hand in the kitchen.

She worked for Wally's Wieners for several years and was looking forward to taking it over as her own business for special events in the Carson Valley.

A member of Carson Valley United Methodist Church, she was in charge of the church nursery for years. She served in the kitchen and was a member of the bell choir. She was collecting recipes for a new church recipe book.

Mrs. Johnson could be seen helping out at Evergreen Healthcare Center. She worked for several years at the Helping Hands Thrift Store. She was a member of the Carson City Unit 7 of the Disabled American Veterans Auxiliary, where she served for many years. She was unit adjutant at the time of her death. She'd also been Nevada commander, Unit 7 commander and chaplain.

Mrs. Johnson is survived by her daughter Lisa Hoyt (James) Valdez; dog Pepper, and numerous cousins, nieces and nephews.