Armetta F. Toby Johnson Obituary (1923 - 2013)

Armetta "Toby" Fern Johnson, 90, of Pontiac died at 9:04 p.m., Sunday, June 2, 2013, at OSF St. James-John W. Albrecht Medical Center in Pontiac. Her Celebration of Life will be held Saturday, June 8, 11:00 a.m. at Duffy-Baier-Snedecor Funeral Home in Pontiac, with the Reverend Dr. John L. Heins, son-in-law, officiating. Burial will be in Southside Cemetery. Friends may call from 9:30 a.m. until the time of the service. Toby was born May 26, 1923 in Starkie County, Indiana, the daughter of Cyrus Thomas and Amelia Caroline (Dehm) Thorndyke. She married Richard Mott Johnson April 25, 1944 in Pontiac. Dick preceded Toby in death January 8, 2011. Daughter Connie Ann (John) Heins of Roscoe survives. She is survived also by brother Everett "Bud" (Jeanette) Thorndyke and sister Alice (Eldon) Buff. She delighted in her three grandchildren: Erika Ann (Mark) Navin, Franklin, WI, Heather Mott Heins, Denver CO, and John Kyle Heins, San Pedro CA. Toby found great joy in great-grandchildren Harper Ann and Myles Andrew Navin. She was preceded in death by her husband, parents, and a brother, Clyde Thorndyke, and sister, Iola Meier. A 1941 graduate of Piper City High School, Toby worked retail in Pontiac for 57 years, retiring in 1991. Toby and Dick established the women's retail store, Toby's Clothes and Things, August 1, 1973, retiring this business April 13, 1991. Toby loved working with people and helping them choose and accessorize clothing. She possessed an innate sense of fitting the clothing to both the body and the personality. She had a knack for displaying clothing and trimming windows. Toby enjoyed puttering in her flower garden, crocheting, sewing, and fishing and hunting with Dick. She lived to work whether in retail, in the house, or in the garden. "If you are not going to do it right, don't do it at all." She loved all animals, especially black poodles Suzie and Shadow, her "perfect children." Toby and Dick loved to dance; they served Cosmos Club in many capacities. The family extends grateful appreciation to the staff at Evenglow Inn for the compassionate, respectful, loving care given to Toby. The family suggests memorials be made to the Livingston County Humane Society or Cross and Crown Lutheran Church, Roscoe IL.