Luanna Johnson

Luanna “Lu” Hughes was born in Riverside, CA on September 15, 1933 to Sevilla and Samuel Hughes. Lu grew up in Pasadena CA and attended college at San Jose State where she earned her bachelor’s degree in Art Education. She remembers learning a great deal in school but said she mostly “learned to cut class and smoke.” Full of wit and humor, sarcastic jabs were often her unique way of showing affection as well as getting a good laugh and making you feel welcome. Following college, Lu taught high school art classes in Alameda, CA between 1957 and 1960 before taking an elementary school teaching job on a military base in Germany between 1961-1964. She lived in a small German village “halfway between Nuremberg and Stuttgart.” Lu loved teaching and remembers all of her school children by name. 

In 1964 she married the love of her life William “Bill” Johnson in Forsyth, NC. Lu stopped teaching to move with her husband’s job at IBM, and in 1969 they moved to Paris, France. There she studied French and attended the cooking school made famous by Julia Child - Le Cordon Bleu. Her love for cooking and entertaining was immense, and she and Bill hosted many dinners and parties, joyfully bringing friends and family together in their warm home and sharing her passion for food and culinary creations. Lu’s creative nature and her love of art also flourished over the years as she developed skills in quilting and sewing, beadwork, and painting. She was passionate about ‘miniatures’ and made a beautiful doll house that was her pride and joy. 

Lu and Bill sought out adventures and traveled all over the world, making new friends wherever they went and keeping in touch with everyone they knew. She loved to journal and made note of all her new friendships, activities, meeting famous people, and kitchen creations.  She kept a specific book to remember everyone’s favorite dish, cocktail drink and if they drank coffee or tea. She also never missed her loved one’s birthdays and holidays by throwing a party, sending cards, and letting them know how much she cared. 

After living in Paris, New York and Washington D.C., Lu and Bill moved to Santa Fe, NM in 1988 where they lived for 30 years. It was here they became very active with the Kindred Spirits Animal Sanctuary and Santa Fe Animal Shelter, supporting the mission of caring for unwanted and aging pets, including by adopting and caring for many aging dogs. Throughout Lu’s life she always had a dog by her side and doted on them with special treats and fun outfits. 

Lu’s husband Bill passed away in 2013 after 49 years of marriage. After Bill died, Lu moved to Naples, FL then Spring Lake, MI to be close to her family. She is survived by her brother-in-law Stanley Johnson of Spring Lake, MI and many nieces and nephews. Donations in Lu’s memory may be sent to the Sante Fe Animal Shelter at 100 Caja Del Rio Rd, Santa Fe, NM 87507.