Obituary of Sara Marie Johnson

Oolitic Sara Marie Johnson, 21 years, one month and one day, was tragically taken from us on the Lords Day, July 18, 2010 in Fayetteville, IN. Sara was a member of the Avoca Baptist Church for more than fourteen years. She and her family previously attended Gulletts Creek Baptist and Oolitic Baptist Churches. From kindergarten through eighth grade, she attended Dollens/Oolitic Middle Schools where she sang in the choir, learned to play the flute and was on the dance team. A 2008 graduate of Bedford North Lawrence High School, she sang in the choir, was a member of the band, Latin Club and Science Club. She earned As in Latin IV. As a senior, she was a cadet teacher with Mrs. Carol Mifflin who was her kindergarten teacher at Dollens. Aspiring to become a history teacher, she was ready to begin her junior year at Oakland City University-Bedford where she had received a half-tuition scholarship and other scholarships and was a student ambassador. Miss Johnson was a two year Girl Scout Troop Leader Assistant and had participated in scouting for many years. She had volunteered at an early age at the Problem Pregnancy Center and L.I.F.E. Pantry. In addition, it was her life-long goal to be a missionary at some point in her life, and also to do some work as a journalist. She was a creative writer, a reader of many books one of which was The Bible from which she spent many hours studying and in serious thought. Sara was artistic and loved music. She loved to sing and praise the Lord. She spent many enjoyable hours babysitting for several children. She had helped in childrens church and the church nursery at Avoca Baptist Church. Most recently, she was an employee of Jiffy Treet and had been a substitute food service employee at NLCS. No doubt about it, she was an inspiration to many and a definite gift from God to us! Since she was only lent to us for a short time, but is now more alive than ever. Sara loved, very much, attending Indian Creek Baptist Church Camp where she spent thirteen years camping during the summer months and where she met many of her friends. Our little drama queen loved to perform on stage at an early age. She played the part of Dorothy from the Wizard of Oz very well at the age of 4. She was an inspiration to all who knew her. With her electric smile, bright beautiful blue eyes, she tried to love everyone. She is now in the presence of God with many of our loved ones, including her grandparents, Nanny Marie (Hillenburg) Jeffries (who was her namesake), Papaw Harvey Price Jeffries, Mamaw Linda (Turpen) Johnson and a baby second cousin, Robert Kiven Gillespie. Those remaining are her parents, Troy S. and Joanne (Jeffries) Johnson and sisters, Lindi Leigh, 17 and Laini Dee, 11; Papaw Joseph S. Johnson of Heltonville; paternal aunts and uncles, Scott and Kimberley (Johnson) Gillespie of Bedford, Kevin Johnson and Lisa Kemper of Janesville, IL; maternal aunts and uncles, Jon Jeffries and Robin Gates, of Bedford, Janna Jeffries-Anderson of Sevierville, TN, Jim and Bobbi Jeffries of Whitehall, IN, Joyce Marie Jeffries of Bedford; several cousins, great aunts and uncles Funeral Information Funeral services will be conducted at 7:00 pm on Thursday, July 22nd at the Avoca Baptist Church with Pastor Kyle Witmer officiating. A committal service will be conducted at 10:30 am on Friday, July 23rd at Gilgal Cemetery in Heltonville. Visitation will be from 12:00 noon until the hour of service on Thursday, July 22nd at the Avoca Baptist Church. Donations Information The family asks that friends consider memorial contributions be made to the Indian Creek Baptist Camp or BNL Scholarship Foundation in Saras name.