Mary Ann Johnson

Mary Ann Harmon Johnson passed away on February 6, 2025 at age 90 with her family by her side. She was a long time Coronado resident who moved to Coronado at age 3 with her parents Olive and Lloyd McKinley Harmon (former Coronado mayor 1952 and 1953) and brother, Lloyd M. Harmon Jr. She attended Coronado schools and was part of the Toastites - a well known girl group in the early 1950's. She attended Stephens College in Columbia, Missouri for two years and graduated from Washington State University with a Bachelors Degree in Elementary Education in 1957. She met her husband, young Naval Academy ensign George L Johnson, the summer before her senior year. They exchanged letters and met up in Hawaii over Christmas break. Soon after her graduation, they married at the North Island NAS chapel. My dad always said he felt like he won the jackpot when he married her. She was beautiful, smart, funny, and she owned a typewriter! The young married couple welcomed son, George Jr in 1958. Then they moved to Cambridge where husband George went to grad school at M.I.T. and daughter, Tish was born. Four years later the young family was stationed in Charleston, South Carolina and daughter, Pam was born. Soon after, they returned to Coronado to raise the family. 

Most people will remember Mary Ann for her beautiful quilts and delicious chocolate desserts, but she also had a green thumb and a strong golf game. She could play Beethoven's "Fur Elise" on the piano and recite the Macbeth soliloquy "Tomorrow and Tomorrow..."  She was a devoted mother to George, Tish, and Pam. When George was 7, he rode his bike down to the little league field. Mom threw Pam in the backseat and backed out the car. She couldn't get the car out of reverse, so she drove all the way to the baseball field in reverse! She was not going to miss that game. She encouraged the three kids to find their passions by giving them so many opportunities like horseback riding, dance, pottery, needlepoint, batik, creative writing, tennis, and golf. 

Mary Ann was "Grammy" to the McKinley Girls - Margaret, Casey, and Mary. She absolutely loved her granddaughters. She loved to entertain them with walks around Coronado, gardening, reading, cooking, and fun family celebrations. 

Her family and friends were truly the cornerstone of her life. She loved entertaining with a beautifully set table, delicious food, and easy conversation. She made her guests feel not only welcome but valued. A passage from Philippians captures her generosity of spirit: "Do nothing of selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others."  All who knew her will always remember her beautiful soul and the deep reservoir of love she possessed.

She was preceded in death by George Lynn Johnson, Tish Weamer, and Mark Thomas. She is survived by George Johnson Jr., Barbara Johnson, Pamela Thomas, Ray Weamer,  Margaret Thomas, Casey and Matt Jervis, Mary and Stephen Schindler, and the great grandchildren McKynlee, William, and Halston Schindler, and Jax Jervis.