Maybelle L. Johnson

1927 - 2021

Norwich - Maybelle L. Johnson (nee Blake) passed away Jan. 13, 2021, in New London. She was born Dec. 4, 1927, in Westbrook, Maine to Herbert and Almira (Alice) Blake. They moved to Naples, Maine, when Maybelle was just three months old. She grew up just down the hill from the Manor House in Naples on a piece of land between the main road (Rt 302) and Long Lake.

She enjoyed skating on that lake, playing baseball and riding her blue bike. After graduating from Bridgton High, she attended Westbrook Junior College and worked for a time at B&M in Portland, Maine.

Maybelle married Richard Johnson of Bridgton, Maine, in June of 1950. The couple moved to Poquonnock Bridge, Groton for the first of their 70 years together. In 1955 they moved a few miles north to Norwich where Maybelle raised her three children, Frank, Rosemary and Eric. She made sure they went every week to Sunday School at Central Baptist Church where she was a member the rest of her life.

Maybelle collected many thousands of postcards and spent a great deal of time organizing them. She was also proficient at knitting, crochet and all manner of handiwork, distributing her finished products to family members and various fundraisers. Maybelle was a devoted Red Sox fan, an affliction passed to her by her father. In the old days, she would move closer to the radio whenever Ted Williams came to bat. In later years, the only television she would watch was a Red Sox game.

Maybelle is preceded in death by her youngest son, Eric; her sisters-in-law, Evelyn Blake and June Peaco (nee Johnson); and her brother-in-law Gordon Peaco. Her husband, Richard, died the same morning as Maybelle. They were exposed to COVID-19 together the last week of December. She is survived by her younger brother, Wilfred Blake of Voluntown; brother-in-law Lee Johnson and sister-in-law Judy Johnson of Bridgton, Maine; children Frank of Albuquerque, N.M. and Rosemary of Norwich; daughters-in-law, Lee Ann Johnson (nee Backer) of Oakdale and Zelda Gordon of Albuquerque, N.M.; granddaughters, Stephani Goss and Kelley Johnson; grandson Lee Johnson of Connecticut; and many Johnson, Blake, Peaco and other nieces and nephews and beyond.

No services will be held at this time. Please visit www.montvillefuneralhome.com to leave a memory and to sign the online guestbook.