OBITUARY: Shirley T. Johnson, 88, of Merritt Island, Passed Away on October 13

By  //  October 24, 2021

Shirley taught music education in schools in Duvall, Alachua, and Palm Beach Counties

Shirley T. Johnson, age 88, of Merritt Island, Florida passed away on October 13, 2021. She was born on March 22, 1933, in Gainesville, Florida to Jewell and Earle Traxler.

BREVARD COUNTY • MERRITT ISLAND, FLORIDA – Shirley T. Johnson, age 88, of Merritt Island, Florida passed away on October 13, 2021. She was born on March 22, 1933, in Gainesville, Florida to Jewell and Earle Traxler.

When she was 4 years old, a little boy named Clarence Johnson moved across the street from her, and twenty years later, on August 30, 1957, they were married. They lived in Merritt Island, Florida since 1964.

Shirley graduated from Alachua High School in 1951 where she was crowned the Alachua County girls Tennis Champion. She went on to earn a degree from FSU in Music Education in 1955 and was a proud member of the Phi Mu Sorority. However, she was always a Gator fan, proudly wearing her orange and blue.

She taught music education in schools in Duvall, Alachua, and Palm Beach Counties, and was an incredible mother to her four children. She stayed involved in many activities in her community.

She was very active in the Faith Lutheran Church family and faithfully served in the Choir and as their Music Director. She was also a long-term member of the Christian Women’s Club. What she was most known for was her kind, loving personality, witnessed by all those who knew her.

Shirley was a seventh-generation Floridian and her family was awarded the prestigious Florida Pioneer Farm Family recognition by the State of Florida.

She was very proud of her heritage. Most importantly she was a Christian and was most happy when she was sharing her faith to others and spreading the good news of her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

She was dearly loved by her family. She was preceded in death by her husband of 62 years, Clarence T. Johnson, Jr, and her parents and her brothers Kenneth Traxler and Bill Traxler.

She leaves behind her beloved children, sons Jay (Michelle) of Merritt Island, son Dale (Nancy) also of Merritt Island, son Doug (Janiece) of Whitesboro, Texas, and daughter Jan of Stowe, Vermont.

Shirley had nine grandchildren: Lauren, Travis, Garrett, Robby, Danny, Jenna, Carley, Olivia, and Kailey, and seven great-grandchildren: Noah, Rowan, Sadie, Jacob, Hadley, Colton, and Tripp.