Maurine Alta Mae Begley Johnson

Maurine Alta Mae Begley Johnson, 88, Palmyra, Mo., passed away Monday, Sept. 7, 2020,  in Hannibal, Mo.

Maurine was born July 23, 1932, in Palmyra, to Richard Leo and Georgia Wilhelmina Groteguth Begley. Maurine was married to Thomas Eldon Johnson on April 13, 1952, at the First Presbyterian Church in Palmyra. He preceded her in death on Oct. 18, 2019.

Survivors include her daughter, Maura Lynn (Steve) Wagner of Tipton, Mo.; three sons; Gary (Corrine) Johnson, San Tan Valley, Ariz.; and Larry and Roger Johnson, Palmyra; three grandchildren, John,  Robert and Angela Daniel, Sedalia, Mo.; nine great-grandchildren, Christopher Daniel, Alexa, Natalie Grace and Max Daniel, Sarah (Austin) Friet, Samantha Hansen, Joseph (Kaylie) Hansen and Katelynn and William Montgomery; four step-grandchildren, Paul (Carrie) Miccolis, Natalie (Eric) Zavala, Daniel (Brianna) Miccolis and Peter (Arianna) Miccolis, all of Arizona; 10 step-great-grandchildren, McKenna, Tyler, Elizabeth, Marissa, Nicole, Maxx, Miles and Effie Miccolis and Emma and Nolan Zavala.

Maurine was also preceded in death by her parents; four brothers, Richard (Mildred) Begley, Marion (Roberta) Begley, Donald (Nellie) Begley and Maurice Begley; and two nephews, David and Edwin “Butch” Begley.

Maurine went to all 12 grades in Palmyra schools. She was a member of the Honor Society in high school and graduated as valedictorian of the class of 1950. 

Maurine was an artist working in oils and later water colors. Her senior year art project was a mural three feet by 10 feet, of Marion County’s history, from pioneer times to the 1950s. It was displayed in the Palmyra State Bank for several weeks.

After graduation, she worked in the accounting department at Moorman Manufacturing Co in Quincy, Ill.

Maurine collected and refinished antiques and continued her oil painting.

Tom and Maurine moved to Mesa, Ariz. in 1971. While in Arizona, she sold Avon for 16 years reaching #1 in sales and winning many awards. 

She served as president of the Heritage Seekers when preservation was continuing on the Gardner House Museum, and later served as treasurer. She also served as president of G.F.W.C. The Palmyra Moderns, and treasurer of the Palmyra Area Community Betterment, when it first started. She was a member of the Palmyra Garden Club, and loved entering floral arrangements.

She opened an antique shop in their home. She made reproduction band boxes, constructing the boxes by hand, sewing them as they did in the early 1800s. She sold them in her shop and did custom ones for people who wanted a wedding or other special gift. 

Tom gave her a hand-made Santa for Christmas one year and said  “you can make these”, so she did, doing a numbered series of 10 and sold them.

Funeral services will be at 10 a.m., Saturday, Sept. 12, at the First Presbyterian Church of Palmyra. Burial will follow at Greenwood Cemetery in Palmyra.

Honorary pallbearers will be her great-grandchildren, Christopher Daniel, William Montgomery, Joseph Hansen, Maxx Daniel, Katelynn Montgomery, Samantha Hansen, Alexa Daniel, Natalie Daniel and Sarah Friet.

Visitation will be from 9 to 10 a.m., Sept. 12, at First Presbyterian Church of Palmyra.

Memorials may be made to James E. Cary Cancer Center.

The family is being served by Lewis Brothers Funeral Chapel in Palmyra.

Online condolences may be shared at www.lewisbrothersfuneralchapel.com.