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Ray & Claire Johnson
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By HELEN HANNAN
Courier correspondent
OTTUMWA - "Ask Ray," often concludes a discussion concerning some aspect of Blakesburg Christian Church.
Ray and Claire Johnson became actively involved with the church soon after coming to Blakesburg in 1959. A few years later they moved to their current home in rural Ottumwa; but their community and church allegiance was unchanged.
For nearly a half century, Ray has quietly served the church wherever needed from performing small maintenance chores to serving on the church board or teaching a Sunday School class.
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Currently an elder, Ray has at one time or another held nearly every office on the church board. For many years he taught adult Sunday School classes, and in recent years has led an evening adult Bible Study.
When his wife, Claire, was battling cancer, and their daughter, Becky, was dying, the couple laid aside their personal problems for a while most weeks to serve communion to and visit with ill and shut-in church members.
While their four children were in school, Ray served a dozen years on the Blakesburg School Board. Later while raising a grandson he very much enjoyed coaching youth basketball in Ottumwa for four years.
"The team had an almost perfect record winning nine out of the 10 games they played, the last year I coached," he said with obvious pride.
A stay-at-home mom, Claire was active with their children's activities, helping with PTA and Music Mothers' projects, 4-H leader, Vacation Bible School teacher, other church activities and in recent years the Christian Women's Fellowship, currently serving as treasurer.
Claire has always enjoyed sewing and when their daughters were young made many of their dresses.
More recently she has used her skill to make quilts which she donates to Hospice, the homeless shelter and shelter for victims of domestic violence.
Initially she made lap robes for Monroe County Hospice to give away because "the Hospice people were so good to Becky," she said. "I thought bright new lap robes might help to cheer people up."
The lap robes were well received, but Claire was so productive that soon Hospice was well stocked with lap robes for future clients so she expanded the project to include other organizations. When she isn't sewing she enjoys shopping fabric sales for supplies.
Claire cans jellies, pickles, fruit and vegetables, products of Ray's garden, his favorite summer-time activity. His family insisted that he quit another favorite pastime, horseback riding, after he was injured in a riding accident.
Ray is a retired engineer for the Milwaukee Railroad, then Sioux Line after that company bought Milwaukee.
Both Ray and Claire agree the best thing about retirement is no more overnight or longer absences from home. She likes to sew in the evening while he enjoys watching televised sports. Both are Ottumwa High School alumni and seldom miss lunch with the 40s Club. |
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