Iola W. Johnson

Iola Watson Johnson passed away on 1 November 2017 in Maryville, Tennessee. She was born June 8, 1924 in Linville, North Carolina the second of five children of Elbert and Nora Watson. Her brothers and sisters predeceased her. She married Dayton Vance in Pineola N.C in early 1944, who died in combat in Normandy France the same year. She married Wayne Eugene Johnson of Crossnore N.C., who was a returning POW in Germany, in October 1945. Master Sergeant Johnson died in 1965. Following his death, Iola returned to Columbia, S.C. where she entered nursing school and graduated as the top graduate of the Baptist Hospital Nursing School in 1968. Iola is survived by her son, Wayne E Johnson, his wife, Tansill, and her daughter, Barbara A Bailey and her husband, Richard. Her youngest child, John Marvin Johnson, died at the age of 20 in 1972 in an automobile accident. She had 6 grandchildren, 12 great-grandchildren. Iola was an outgoing, kind, charming, and thoughtful person. She made friends as easily as she made dancing look easy. After her nursing career, she enjoyed taking classes at the local college and enjoyed taking routine walks. She will be missed greatly by her family and friends. In the last several years of her life, Iola suffered from dementia/ Alzheimer’s. She lived at Brookdale Senior living in Maryville, Tennessee where the staff was exceptionally kind and thoughtful. Iola requested that her ashes be placed at the family cemetery in Crossnore, N.C. where her husband, Wayne, and son, John, are buried. Smith Funeral & Cremation Service, Maryville, 865-983-1000, www.SmithFuneralandCremation.com To send flowers or a memorial gift to the family of Iola W. Johnson please visit our Sympathy Store.