Gayle L. Johnson

Gayle L. Johnson, 66, of Kearney died Saturday, December 4, 2010 at the Hospice House in Omaha. Funeral Services will be Thursday, December 9, 2010 at 10:30 a.m. at Horner Lieske McBride & Kuhl Funeral and Cremation Services in Kearney. Pastor Bill Ritter will officiate and burial will be at Kearney Cemetery.Visitation will be Wednesday from 5:00 ? 7:00 p.m. at Horner Lieske McBride & Kuhl.Memorials are suggested to the Cancer Center of Kearney and the Autism Society of Nebraska.A message of condolence, tribute or memory can be left at www.hlmkfuneral.com.Horner Lieske McBride & Kuhl Funeral and Cremation Services in Kearney are in charge of arrangements. Gayle was born October 12, 1944 to Ross and Anita (Baldwin) Skiles in Kearney. She grew up on farm about 8 miles southwest of Kearney. She graduated from Kearney High School in 1962 and attended Kearney State College where she was a member of the Alpha Xi Delta Sorority.She graduated with a Bachelors of Arts in Education with a double major of Business and English.After graduating she taught school in Harvard and Bertrand Nebraska.In 1970 she completed her Masters in English.Gayle married Gary Lee Johnson in 1969 in Kearney.They had a daughter, Shawn, in 1974.Gayle was a very devoted mother who enjoyed attending and supporting her daughter?s activities. She was one of the founding board members with the Girls Competitive Softball Association.Gary and Gayle divorced in 1995 but remained very close. Gayle worked for the State of Nebraska for 40 years.She started in 1970 at the Youth Rehabilitation & Treatment Center and then worked at Vocational Rehabilitation in Kearney.In 1977 she started at Buffalo County Court where she worked until she retired in 2010. Gayle attended Elizabeth Valley Sunday school as a child and later joined Faith United Methodist church in Kearney.In 2003 she built a home with her sister Pat who had retired and moved back to Kearney. Gayle loved genealogy and spent many years chronicling her family tree.She also was an avid stamp collector and reader. Perhaps her biggest passion though was working in the incredible garden that she and her sister created and maintained. Surviving relatives: Ex ? Husband Gary Johnson of Kearney Daughter : Shawn and husband Casey Neff of Omaha Stepdaughters Jacki Johnson of Kearney,Deb Johnson of Omaha Grandsons Jerry (JP) Neff and Trey Neff of Omaha Step Grandsons Adam Quintana and Alex Quintana of Kearney Brother : Richard and wife Marilyn Skiles of Kearney Sister Patricia Skiles of Kearney Sister in Law Connie Skiles of Kearney Auntand Uncle Edith and Jerry Marlattof Kearney She is also survived by many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents and brother Robert Skiles. PDF Printable Version

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Gayle L. Johnson

October 12, 1944 - December 4, 2010