Mary Johnson OBITUARY
Mary Skinner Johnson, beloved wife, mother, sister, friend, teacher, professor, restaurant owner, chef, business consultant and mentor, died in Denver, CO, from complications of late-stage dementia. Born in Pekin, IL, to Lloyd and Florence (Bash) Skinner, she was raised in Forest City, IL. She earned a BA and an MA in English Literature from Illinois State University, and it was at ISU, on the debate team, that she met Jerald (Jerry) Johnson. They married in Forest City in 1966 and were together for 58 years.
Mary taught sixth grade for three years in Farmers City, IL, while her husband worked on an advanced degree at the University of Illinois. She later taught English Literature for two years at ISU.
The couple bought Julia Child's two-volume set, "Mastering the Art of French Cooking," and formed a "cooking and dining society" in Central Illinois, later terming it "a hobby that got out of control." After their twins Christopher and Elizabeth were born, the Johnsons moved in 1971 to Greeley, CO, for Jerry's work at the University of Northern Colorado. Mary, along with friends Bill and Kathleen (Sullivan) Andrews, opened a restaurant, The Country Frenchman, and operated it for five years to enthusiastic reviews.
In 1979 the family moved to Denver, where Jerry developed a political consulting business with significant support from Mary. In the mid-1980s she established her own company, M. Johnson and Company, Inc. (later, part of The Johnson Consulting Companies, Inc.), providing consulting, public relations, event management and writing services. Mary's keen organizational skills, editorial brilliance, and astuteness in working with people resulted in a thriving practice, including with some significant Colorado organizations. Along the way, she influenced and inspired more than a few of her clients, employees and contractors.
For a number of years she co-led a Girl Scout troop with Lynnece Gaines. The troop provided more than a dozen girls once-in-a-lifetime experiences, including dinners with prominent professional women who described their academic training and work lives, field trips for behind-the-scenes looks at theatre set design, spending a night in a snow cave, and a trip to England and Scotland. Each experience provided lessons within lessons, such as camping while picking up birding skills or planning the trip to England while learning about fundraising.
Mary and Jerry lived for 35 years in the same home in Denver's Park Hill, downsizing to a home in the Central Park neighborhood in 2015. They were Buff fans, often traveled to away CU basketball and football games, and were season ticket holders for both teams for 33+ years. The couple were longtime season ticket holders for the Denver Philharmonic and fans of the Santa Fe Opera – at one point they traveled to Santa Fe 20 years in a row. They also supported a variety of philanthropic causes. They loved great restaurants, especially French ones.
Mary is survived by her husband, Jerry; their children, Christopher (Chris) Johnson (wife Amy) of Phoenix, AZ, and grandchildren Nora, Lucy and Jack; and Elizabeth Johnson (husband Hsin Tsao) of Denver and grandchildren Zachary and Hailey. Mary was preceded in death by her parents and by siblings Stanley Skinner and Janet Skinner Kemp. A private celebration of life will be held. The family has established a fund in memory of Mary Johnson to support the Creative Arts Therapy Program at UC Health. Memorial contributions may be made at (for questions, email or call 303-724-8227).
