GLOUCESTER: Shirley A. (Waterman) Johnson, 78, passed away peacefully on July 6, 2010, surrounded by her family following an extended illness. She was the wife of the late Richard E. "Dick" Johnson, who died in September of 2001.
Born in Beverly on May 2, 1932, she was the daughter of the late Charles L. and Ina Blossom (McDormand) Waterman. She was a graduate of the Gloucester High School class of 1951.
Shirley was employed by Liberty Mutual Insurance Company of Lynn, followed by New England Telephone of Gloucester. She was also a switchboard operator at the Addison Gilbert Hospital for many years.
An active member of her community, she volunteered as a Girl Scout leader and was involved with the Mariners Drum & Bugle Corps and the International Order of Rainbow for Girls. She was also an avid piano player and enjoyed playing for the residents at various Cape Ann nursing homes.
A loving and devoted mother and grandmother, she leaves behind four children, Bryan C. and his wife Nancy (Lumbruno) Johnson , David Johnson and Diane L.W. Johnson all of Gloucester and Christine Johnson-Doucette of Amesbury; seven grandchildren, Bryan, Brandon, Alicia, Derek Johnson, Frank Sclafani, Nicholas and Adam Doucette. She also leaves her former daughter-in-law, Annette Schaller and former son-in-law, John Doucette; sisters, Jeanne Palm and Eleanor, wife of Dominic Benedetto; sisters-in-law, Lorena and Evelyn Waterman; brother-in-law, Robert G., husband of Helen Johnson; her beloved friend, Janice Johnson, her special friend, John Plourde; many nieces, nephews and dear friends as well as her faithful companion, Iteka.
A memorial service will be held in the Trinity Congregational Church on Saturday at 10:30 a.m. Relatives and friends are cordially invited to attend. There are no visiting hours. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made in her memory to the Development Office Carroll Center for the Blind, 770 Centre St., Newton, MA 02458 (www.carroll.org).