Beatrice M. Harris Johnson, 83, left us on Wednesday, February 12, 2014, at Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital in Binghamton. She went to join her husband, Howard, their little girl “Lolly” and the rest of her family that predeceased her. She was born July 12th 1930 in Oneonta, NY, the youngest child of the late Lawrence L. and Bessie Mae (Waterman) Harris. In 1935, when Bea was only 5, her mother passed away. Her sister Gladys did her best to fill in, even though she herself was still a child. That was the first of many struggles in her life which made her a strong, brave woman, even as her body became frail with age.
On February 13, 1947, she married Howard Johnson in Mt. Upton. Besides being a mother and wife, she worked for a short time in Norwich Knitting Mills; then for many years she packed shoes with amazing speed at the Norwich Shoe Company. She was a member of the Tuscarora Chapter NSDAR in Binghamton, NY. She loved watching the birds and animals especially when camping at Copes Corners Camp Grounds with family and friends. In the summer there were lots of strawberry shortcakes, fresh berry pies and cobblers. In the fall we had homemade pickles, canned tomatoes, apple crisp; many apple and pumpkin pies. Her apple pie became our Gold standard; we seldom ate them anywhere but home, because they were never as good. She had a bumper crop of apples this year and even helped Barney pick them.
Beatrice is survived by: a son and daughter-in-law, Howard R. “Barney” and Debra Johnson, South New Berlin; two daughters and sons-in-law, Linda and Gary Slawson, Binghamton and Sharon and Dr. Louis Jablin, Staten Island; grandchildren: Travis Johnson and girlfriend Kristin Hloucha, New Berlin, William and Carmen Slawson, Roanoke, VA, Jon Slawson, Windsor, Jeffrey Slawson, Buffalo, and Benjamin, Megan and Melissa Jablin, Staten Island; great-grandchildren: Drake, Brianna and Lindsay Slawson, Roanoke, VA; brother-in-law and sister-in-law, Raymond and Carol Johnson, Unadilla; sister-in-law, Florence Johnson, Norwich; as well as several nieces , nephews and great-nieces and great-nephews.
In addition to her parents, Lawrence and Bessie Harris, Beatrice was predeceased by her husband, Howard, daughter, Laura May Johnson; brother, Arnold Harris; sister and brother-in-law, Gladys and Lynn Harrington; brother-in-law, William Johnson; and 4 sisters-in-law: Ellen Harris, Virginia Johnson, Gladys Porter and Dorothy Christian.
Friends are invited to call from 5:00-8:00pm on Monday, February 17, 2014 and from 12noon-1:00pm on Tuesday, February 18th at C.H. Landers Funeral Chapel, 21 Main Street, Sidney. Funeral services will be held at 1:00pm on Tuesday, February 18th at the funeral chapel with Rev. Gerald Bovee officiating. Burial will take place in the spring in Maplewood Cemetery, Mt. Upton. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be directed to the Delaware Valley Humane Society, 101 East Main St. Sidney, NY 13838. Condolences and memories may be shared with the family online at www.landersfh.com.
Arrangements are under the direction of C.H. Landers Funeral Chapel, Sidney.