Michelle Johnson's Obituary
Marguerite Michelle Johnson, of Longview, Texas passed away peacefully in her sleep on December 24, 2020. She was born to the late Raymond and Henrietta Chapuis-Roux on July 26, 1935, in Kaiserslautern, Germany. A funeral mass for Michelle will be held on Tuesday December 29th, 2020 at Saint Mary’s Catholic Church, Longview, Texas at 10:00 a.m. Her burial will follow at Rosewood Park Cemetery. Officiating the Mass will be Reverend Daniel P. Dower. The family will have visitation at Rader Funeral Home on Monday December 28, 2020 from 4:30 till 6:30. (Full CDC precautions will be followed during the visitation, funeral mass, and burial.) For those unable to attend the Mass of Christian Burial will be live streamed from St. Mary's Catholic Church Face Book site at @stmaryslongview · Catholic Church.
Michelle was a beautiful person inside and out. She was a wonderful mother who unconditionally loved her children. She remained a faithful Catholic throughout her life and began attending St Mary’s Catholic Church after she moved to Longview in 2006. Michelle’s greatest gift was her compassion for others, especially those who needed a kind word or encouragement. She always had time to listen to someone’s problems and offer loving and compassionate counsel. Her most treasured moments centered around the time she spent with her children and close family members. Most recently she enjoyed spending time with her five great grandchildren: Claire, Cooper, Connor, Rhett and Chloe. She loved showering others with gifts, delighting in their expressions of thankfulness. She would always have something for her grandchildren and great grandchildren when they visited. Michelle loved to learn and became an avid reader. She also loved to prepare delicious meals to be savored and enjoyed with family.
Michelle grew up in war-torn Germany, a trauma that stayed with her throughout her life. Despite her traumatic childhood, Michelle persevered and became a kind and compassionate young woman full of hope and love. She married Jim Furey, an Army sergeant, in 1955 and moved to the United States in 1956. Michelle taught herself English while raising her children and became an accomplished self-taught cook. In 1965 she also taught herself to drive when her husband left to fight his first of two tours of duty in the Vietnam war. Even though the family moved frequently throughout her husband’s military career, Michelle always made sure her children had a safe, comfortable home and always had delicious healthy meals. Although her family was always her priority, Michelle also enjoyed helping others during her career in sales that spanned close to 50 years.
She is survived by her children, Harold Herrmann, of Kaiserslautern, Germany, Stephanie Anne Hajjar, of Longview, Michael James Furey, of Hazelhurst, Mississippi, Bernice Laureen Bagley and husband William of Longview and Shaun Scott Furey and wife Sherry of Overland Park, Kansas. She is also survived by her grandchildren Kimberly Morris, Lauren Bradley and husband Danny, Christi Epp and husband Johnathan, Alexandra Phillips and husband Zach, Austin Furey, Alexis Hajjar and Ashleigh Furey.
The family wishes to thank the nurses and staff of Brookdale, Hospice Plus, Sylvia Aguaristi and Eva Robertson for their love, devotion, and care of their mother.
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