May Elizabeth Johnson

KINGSBURY * May Elizabeth (Foskett) Johnson,89, died peacefully at her farm and home of fifty years, in Kingsbury, on Tuesday, Jan. 23, 2007.

May was born May 13, 1917, in Woodstock, Conn., the youngest child of Frank Warren Foskett and Bertha Carr Foskett.

May was predeceased by her husband, Homer P. Johnson and her five siblings, Howard Foskett, Geneva (Foskett) Hargrove, Harold Foskett, Grace (Foskett) McKeague, and Katherine Foskett.

May graduated from Woodstock Academy in Woodstock, Conn., in 1935. She worked for American Optical in Southbridge, Mass., from 1936 to 1942, before leaving to work as a clerk in the War Department in Washington D.C. during World War II.

On Dec. 1, 1943, in Laredo, Texas, she married Homer, her high school sweetheart and at that time, a sergeant in the U.S. Army.

At the end of the war, they returned to New England to raise their family. Homer was a grain salesman for the Worthmore Feed Company. They resided in Raynham, Mass. and Hillsboro, N.H. before purchasing Mearscrest registered Holstein Farm in Kingsbury. They moved to the farm in May of 1957, and renamed the farm, Mayhome. They had established a fine herd and reputation for the farm, when Homer died of a heart attack in 1961, leaving May with six children to raise. And she did. "Mama May" as she was fondly known, was a small lady with an exceptionally strong will. "Never say I can't - say I'll try."

May ran the dairy farm for many years, before retiring at the age of 72. May loved children, cows, cats, dogs, birds, and all of nature. She loved flowers and gardening. She was a great cook and made the best rolls in the world! She loved history and poetry, spoke French, played piano, skied and dressed stylishly as a young woman. She enjoyed radio, folk concerts, church dinners and Sunday drives. She worked hard.

May had Alzheimer's disease. She was lovingly cared for in her home by her daughter, Marjorie for the last twelve years, for which the family is eternally grateful.

She is survived by her six children: Donna May (Johnson) Fillmore, Homer P. Johnson Jr., Kathryn Johnson, Norma Johnson, Marjorie (Johnson) Taylor and her husband, John Taylor, and Nathaniel Johnson and his fianceé, Cheryl Townsend. She is also survived by grandchildren, Todd Borlang and his wife, Susan, Ian Borlang and his companion, Megan Hanehan, Naomi Borlang, Elizabeth May (Bankowski) Donaldson and her husband, Dr. Anthony Donaldson, Nicholas Bankowski, Joshua Johnson and his wife, Becky, Jeremy Johnson, Erika Fillmore, Erica Taylor, and Justine Taylor; her great-grandchildren, Brooke Patnode, Quinn and Declan Donaldson and Kailynn Johnson; her sisters-in-law, Mrs. Harold (Ester) Foskett, Mrs. Howard (Molly) Foskett, Mrs. Alice (Johnson) Foote and husband Proctor, and Mrs. Nora (George) Johnson; and many nieces, nephews and cousins, also survive her.

Calling hours will be conducted at the Carlton Funeral Home, 68 Main St. in Hudson Falls on Monday evening, Jan. 29, from 6 to 8 p.m.

The funeral will follow at 8 p.m. at the funeral home, with the Rev. Sheldon Hurst of the Kingsbury Baptist Church, officiating.

Spring interment services will be held at the Central Cemetery in North Woodstock, Conn.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Heifer International Project, 1 World Ave., Little Rock, AR 72202 or The Kingsbury Baptist Church, C/O Sylvia Weaver, 329 Dean Road, Hudson Falls, NY 12839.