Obituary of Miriam Ellen Johnson

Miriam Ellen (Hoy) Johnson, "Mimi" of Julian, went home to be with her Savior on April 23, 2024. Born on July 19, 1939 in Lock Haven, PA, she was the daughter of Robert A. Hoy & Geraldine EE (Shope) Hoy. She married her high school sweetheart, Royce Kermit Johnson at Pine Hall Lutheran Church in State College, PA on March 22, 1959.

In addition to her husband, she is survived by three children, Royce Kim Johnson and his wife Ranee of Port Matilda, Sharon R. Guenot and her husband Joseph of Julian, and Erik W. Johnson of Julian; sixteen grandchildren; nine great grandchildren; and a sister, Carole Jeanne Yearick and her husband John of Nittany, PA. She was preceded in death by her son, Rob R. Johnson, her brothers Robert, William, and Ronald and her sister, Annabelle Liledahl.

Miriam graduated from State College High School in 1957 and went on to work at Penn State University as an Administrative Assistant in the Colleges of Agriculture and Earth & Mineral Sciences where she retired in 1998. She was a lifelong member of Pine Hall Lutheran Church where she taught Sunday School, played piano and sang alto in the church choir. She loved hearing her grandchildren play music and sing. She came to every event that she could to cheer and support them.

Miriam loved her Royce. Their love story began in junior high and continued for the next 71 years, 65 of them as husband and wife. She dearly loved her family. Her happiest moments were spending time with her children, grandchildren and friends. This tiny woman with a huge heart impacted so many and her legacy will live on through them. And she dearly loved her Savior, Jesus Christ. Her faith guided her throughout her sojourn and she quietly shared it with her words but mostly in the way she lived.

Visitation will be held from 6-8 pm on Friday, April 26, 2024 at Faith Baptist Church, 647 Valley Vista Dr, State College, PA, 16803. A second visitation will be held prior to the service on Saturday, April 27, 2024 from 10-11 am.

Funeral will be held at 11 am on Saturday, April 27, 2024 at Faith Baptist Church with Pastor Drew Fenstermacher officiating.

Arrangements are under the care of Koch Funeral Home, State College. Online condolences may be entered at www.kochfuneralhome.com or visit us on Facebook. Memorial contributions can be made to Pine Hall Lutheran Church or St. Judes Children's Hospital.