Martha Rae Johnson

Martha R. Johnson, 72, of Coloma, passed away on Monday, May 29, 2017, at Woodland Terrace in Coloma after a long battle with chronic illness. A Celebration of Life Service will be held at 10:00 AM Friday, June 2, 2017 at Christian Reformed Church, 3275 Washington Ave., St. Joseph with Elder Mike Klunder officiating. Burial will take place at North Shore Memory Gardens in Coloma. Friends may visit from 5:00 PM until 7:00 PM Thursday, June 1, 2017 at Starks & Menchinger Chapel, 2650 Niles Rd., St. Joseph. Memorial contributions may be made to the family in care of Cheri Jones. Those wishing to share a memory of Martha online may do so at www.starks-menchinger.com. Martha was born on September 28, 1944 in Dowagiac, to Ralph B. and Dorothy M. (Scribner) Underwood. She attended Grand Ledge Academy and graduated in 1963. On August 8, 1971 she married Thomas A. Johnson in Benton Harbor. Martha worked as a Legal Secretary at Legal Services in St. Joseph for ten years. She then went on to work as a church secretary at several local churches. Martha was a member of Christian Reformed Church, where she was a secretary and enjoyed volunteering her time especially with writing inspirational notes for fellow church members. She also volunteered her time a Lakeland Hospital. Martha had a love for music which started at an early age where she sung in a trio while in high school. She was a talented hand quilter which was shown by the many pieces she crafted over the years. Most of all Martha loved spending time with her family. Martha is survived by her daughters, Rebecca (Mike Hallenbeck) Menter of Phoenix, AZ, and Cheri (Todd Scheffler) Jones of Hartford; son Bob (Cheryl) Johnson of Coloma; grandchildren, Danielle Rogers, Paul (Kyleigh) Johnson, Brett and Kyle Johnson, Tiana, Marissa and Phillip Scheffler; great-grandchildren, Tomás, Bentio and Julian Vigil and Claire Johnson; brothers, Barry (Brenda) Underwood, and Bob (Kay) Underwood both of Lansing; sisters, Phyllis (Harry) Sponseller and twin sister Mary Shoemaker both of Decatur and numerous nieces and nephews. Special thanks to the Woodland Terrace Staff. She was preceded in death by her parents, and her husband Thomas on May 4, 2003.