Louella Lorraine (Gross) Johnson

Louella Lorraine Johnson, 94, of Emporia, KS passed away Friday, August 16, 2024 at her home.  She was born November 22, 1929 in Centerville, South Dakota the daughter of Godlieb Gross and Anna (Stickley) Gross.  She lived in Yankton, South Dakota before moving to Emporia, Kansas.

She married Howard “Bud” Horlyk and they later divorced.  From this union three daughters, Vicki, Kay and Tammy and a son, Michael were born.

On November 7, 2001 she married Walter Johnson.  They shared over twenty-two years of marriage. 

Louella was a homemaker while raising the children, she later worked in several department stores as a salesperson and eventually retired from Wal-Mart in Emporia, KS.

She was a member of New Covenant Church in Emporia, KS. She loved to dance; sell antiques at flea markets; as well as fishing, camping and traveling with her family.  She was full of life, was a practical joker and loved to make people laugh.

Lou was preceded in death by her parents, Godlieb and Anna Gross; three sisters, Vivian Germillion, Phyllis Mayeux and Delores Grovijahn; and three brothers, Glen Gross, Floyd Gross and Lester Gross.

Surviving family includes her husband, Walter Johnson of the home; three daughters, Vicki Burnett of Emporia, KS, Kay Christopher of Madison, KS and Tammy Langholz (Jim) of Louisburg, KS; a son, Michael Horlyk (Tracy) of Sioux Falls, SD; two sisters, Eileen Mehle of Louisiana; and Evelina Robinson of Jackson, MO; a step-son, Keith Johnson (Janet) of Overbrook, KS; eleven grandchildren; and sixteen great-grandchildren.

A Celebration of Life Service will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday, August 24, 2024 at the New Covenant Church, 2300 E. 6th Avenue, Emporia, KS 66801.  Inurnment will follow at the Overbrook Cemetery, Overbrook, KS.  Memorial contributions may be made to the Hand in Hand Hospice and sent in c/o the Lamb-Roberts-Price Funeral Home, P.O. Box 268, Overbrook, KS 66524.  Condolences may be sent to the family through www.lamb-roberts.com.

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