Miriam Bertha Johnson, 85, Ottawa, an Osawatomie native and former Paola resident, died Tuesday, Oct. 4, 2005, at Richmond Care Center in Richmond.

She was born Aug. 5, 1920, in Osawatomie, the daughter of Eugene E. and Emily Mae Coffelt Potter. She grew up in Osawatomie and graduated from Osawatomie High School with the Class of 1938.

She was married to Edgar Johnson on Jan. 17, 1941, in Osawatomie. They moved to Little Rock, Ark., and she followed her husband's military service, returning to Osawatomie in 1946. They moved to Paola in 1953, to Princeton in 1975 and to Ottawa in 1985, in Franklin County, Kansas, where she made her home until her death.

Mrs. Johnson was a homemaker.

She was a member of the First Presbyterian Church of Osawatomie.

A kind and caring lady, Miriam loved animals. She was especially fond of cats, dogs, and horses. She enjoyed all her homemaking skills and caring for her family. She was a devoted wife, mother, and grandmother, whose greatest joy was spending time with her family and grandchildren.

Surviving are her husband, Edgar Johnson of the home; her daughter, Loretta Edwards of Garnett, Kansas; son, Rick Johnson and his wife, Treniece, of Greeley, Kansas; five grandchildren, Scott Johnson, David Johnson, Shannon Johnson, Jessica Lewis-Edwards, and James Lewis and his companion, Sonya Schell, and their son, Adam Lewis, who is one of Miriam's three great-grandchildren.

She is preceded in death by her parents and son-in-law, Harold Edwards.

Graveside services were held in the Osawatomie Cemetery on Friday, October 7, 2005 with Pastor Leslie King of the Presbyterian Church officiating.

Memorials can be made to the Ransom Memorial Hospital, c/o Dengel & Son Mortuary, 235 S. Hickory, Ottawa, Kansas 66067.