Elinor Johnson

“Elinor May Johnson passed away on May 13, 2015. She was born on May 10th, 1925 in Battle Creek, Michigan. Elinor was the 5th of six children of David Hoy and Mildred Sweetland Hoy. She grew up in Battle Creek. Elinor attended Western Michigan University and worked for at time at Kellogg Cereal Co. before marrying Carlton W. Coss. Elinor and Carl moved to Tucson in 1957, when Carl hired on to Hughes Aircraft as an accountant. Elinor and Carl were married for 20 years and raised three children in the Glen Heather neighborhood of Tucson, Arizona. Elinor obtained a bachelor’s in Education from Arizona State University in the early 1970s. Elinor was then married to Rev. Wilbur R. Johnson for 20 years. They resided in Tempe, Tucson and then Altadena, California where Rev. Johnson was pastor of the Scott United Methodist Church in Pasadena, California. Elinor taught the Blind and Handicapped in the Pasadena City Schools. Elinor also became a certified Polarity Massage therapist and spent several years as a counselor. In her later years Elinor moved to Sierra Vista, Arizona and resided in the Desert Shadows neighborhood where she was active in the homeowners association, including a stint as president. While living in Sierra Vista, Elinor worked with her son, daughter-in-law and grandchildren at their Baskin-Robbins ice cream store for many years. Elinor was famous for her waffle cones. Elinor often attended Sierra Vista United Methodist Church where her son, Carl, is the choir director. In her final years Elinor moved to Fellowship Square in Tucson, Arizona. She regularly attended Desert Skies United Methodist Church with her daughter. In her final months Elinor lived with her daughter in Tucson, Arizona. Elinor was preceded in death by her parents, husbands, and all her siblings. She is survived by her three children, Carlton Coss Jr (Carol) of Sierra Vista, Dr. Lawrence Coss (Sherry) of Snowflake, and Connie Kraska (Jim) of Tucson; her ten grandchildren Teresa Patterson (Thomas), Jennifer Monks (Jerry), Carlton Coss III, Casey Stroud (Jason), Clifford Coss (Jenn), Jamie Weber (Merlin), Scott Coss (Sadhana), Andrew Coss (Brandy), Jeff Kraska, Caitlin Lamb (Jake); and her 11 great grandchildren. Elinor was a lifelong seeker of spiritual truth and dedicated student of The Course in Miracles for many years. She strove to embody unconditional love to her family and friends. She will be sorely missed. Her children invite you to share in the celebration of her life at a memorial service to be held Saturday, June 6th, 2015 at 2:00 PM at Sierra Vista United Methodist Church, 3225 St. Andrews Dr. in Sierra Vista, Arizona.”