Eleanor Elizabeth Johnson

To live in hearts we leave behind is not to die.

Obituary

Eleanor Elizabeth (Carlton) Johnson
Born in Tifton, Georgia to Enoch & Vivian Carlton. The eldest of four children she is survived by her sister
Katherine, and brothers Kenneth and Randal. Her early childhood was spent in Georgia amongst the red clay earth of cotton and tobacco farms  where her family worked the land. After her fathers army service in WW2 the family migrated north where they settled in a suburb of Detroit where she would remain for the rest of her life. Spending her primary years in Madison Heights. It was here that she met and married her high school sweetheart Kenneth Johnson in 1959.  
They moved to Hazel Park, had four daughters and spent the the next 27 years together as a family fixture in the small house on the corner of Reynolds and Felker. Here she established herself as the den mother of the neighborhood and for the following 40 years she would be known for being the homeroom mother, lunch monitor, scorekeeper for little league, dress and costume maker for proms and plays, pinochle club, booster club and so much more. Her door was always open, coffee was always on and a listening ear ready. She was given the nickname Grams and carried a youthful presence. Always engaged, supportive and all around safe place for generations of Hazel Park kids.

As time passed and grandchildren took the center stage she came into her own and settled into her role as most beloved grandma and great grandma. This would  be her most treasured one for the remainder of her days.

She was always so proud of her kids -calling to check in and stay abreast of accomplishments , encouraging, still sewing and keeping score in the sidelines, forever bragging with pictures and stories to any and everyone - the preservation and celebration of her children’s accomplishments were front and center of her life.

She moved from the family home into senior apartments in Oak Park and continued to be the neighbor with the soft heart and open arms. Over the past 20 years she made more friends, organized game nights,
she never  turned down cards and potlucks, especially over sports. If a Detroit team was playing, she was watching and passing around her latest dip and wing concoction-along with her beloved margarita .

Her sudden death has left her family and community with shoes too big to fill, so we retire them like a sports jersey.
She will be remembered for her love of a little adventure, driving to a beautiful vista, a meal at a tucked away diner, a trip to a casino and stopping to hunt for beach rocks along the way.

Her lineage was something she cherished and she had a passion for storytelling. As years went on some of her retelling became more lore and tall tales. But the fact remains that she was so proud to be the matriarch of a lovely group of kin whose job it will be to carry her memory forward with hearts as open as hers.

Descendants of Eleanor :
Daughter-Sherry Johnson (deceased)
grandchildren and great grandchildren-
-Jason Johnson & Kelly K and their children, Cade, Gavin, Kaesyn and Lee Dorchak Jr.
-Chelsea (Schirmer) & David Tolton and their children Clark and Eliza
-Sunni Schirmer &Erik Mylenek
-Harrison Schirmer Sr & Breanna Bennet & their children Harrison Jr. Malkom, Maryia, Kendell and Andrue

Daughter -Lori Johnson(Joey Golden)
grandchildren
-Cullen Golden
-Addie Golden

Daughter -Kelly Horvath(deceased) (Mike Horvath)
grandchildren and great grandchildren-
-Paige (Horvath) & Jake Kendziorski and their children Henry and new baby
-Tyler Horvath

Daughter -Tina Johnson (Glen Bergers)
grandchild
-Jasper  & Carianna Yeager

Notice

A celebration of life will be forthcoming.
If you are inspired to honor her with a donation
the Detroit gleaners food bank and the Heifer are two charities that were in keeping with her character.
Feed others and honor Gods green earth 

Gallery

Memory wall