M. Katharine Johnston

Johnston, M. Katharine
71, of Scottsdale, passed away June 14, 2010, at home surrounded by her daughter Melanie Johnston and her beloved dogs, Saucy and Brewster. Johnston (nee Burkett) went to the Great Sewing Room in the Sky, as she nicknamed the hereafter, just 10 days shy of her 72nd birthday. Katharine was a talented dress designer and creative seamstress who enjoyed sewing for her family and crafting Christmas stockings for children in need. She is also survived by her daughter Lisa Johnston Penner of Edmond, Okla., and her grandchildren, Nicholas and Samantha. An avid genealogist, Katharine was proud of her pioneer ancestry. Through researching her roots, she earned a Texas First Family designation from the Texas State Genealogical Society. This honor is for families who prove their ancestors' presence in Texas prior to statehood in 1846. She was also proud that her great-grandfather, James Henry Burkett, developed the famous Burkett paper shell pecan. The pecan is the state tree of Texas. Katharine's pioneer bloodline would prove valuable in a life that presented many challenges. She gave up a dress design scholarship to marry her high school sweetheart, Jerry Lee Johnston. After supporting him during his short stint in the military, she found herself raising two young daughters alone. Katharine often worked two jobs to make ends meet. Caring for her daughters was her prime concern and, with the fortitude of a frontier woman, she never considered her efforts sacrifices, though they were. Her adventurous spirit led her to move with her young daughters to Hawaii for 5 years; to graduate from Arizona State University with a degree in English Literature at the age of 57; to serve as an editor at the Phoenix New Times and Phoenix Business Journal; and to survive health issues that would have taken weaker spirits long ago. Katharine loved animals and had a green thumb for vegetable gardening. With a wonderfully dry sense of humor, she loved literature, writing and writers. Surely she is at a dinner table now with William Shakespeare, Lafcadio Hearn and Oscar Wilde, three of her favorites. As an early fan of the Kingston Trio, Katharine delighted the last few years in attending their performances at the Trio's annual Scottsdale fantasy camp. There Nick Reynolds, John Stewart, and sometimes Bob Shane, would sing their hits. Katharine happily sang along. With her love for sewing, knitting and crafting, she left behind an impressive stash of supplies. To honor her passion, Katharine's family wants to create a sewing and crafting room within a non-profit Phoenix-area organization. To suggest a worthy group, fax their info. to 888-469-3827. This obituary has been delayed due to her daughter Melanie's difficulty in facing the finality of her loss. She will have to emulate her mother to find the strength to carry on without her.
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