Neva Evelyn Johnson

"Granny" NEVA EVELYN JOHNSON of Jacksonville passed away while being comforted by her family Thursday, Dec. 13, 2012, at the age of 83 at Saint Vincent's Infirmary in Little Rock. Neva was born Dec. 2, 1929, in Albuquerque, N.M., to John and Rhoda Skidgel. Granny loved to share her childhood memories with her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Her favorite stories were of her experiences with Native American children and the Dust Bowl in the plains of Oklahoma. Neva married her childhood sweetheart, Clabourne Johnson in 1945 in Malvern. One of Neva's favorite hobbies was tracing her family's genealogy, which she followed back for hundreds of years to Native America, the Civil War and early European settlers. She also enjoyed painting, fishing and visiting the Little Rock Zoo. Neva loved working at E-Z Mart on Kiehl Ave. in Sherwood from 1988 to 2003. She treated her customers like family and insisted the they all call her "Granny". Her only disappointment in life was that she never visited Hawaii. Neva is survived by her children, Gloria Burnett of Maryland, Deborah Lee-Choate of Cabot, Barbara Perkins of Jasper, and Eugene Johnson of Jacksonville. She is also survived by nine grandchildren and a host of great-grandchildren. Neva was preceded in death by her husband, Clabourne Johnson and her parents, John and Rhoda Skidgel. Visitation will be from 6 to 8 p.m. Monday at Moore's Jacksonville Funeral Home. Funeral services will be 2 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 18, 2012, in the funeral home's chapel. Burial will follow at Arkansas Memorial Gardens under the direction of Moore's Jacksonville Funeral Home and Crematory (501) 982-2136. Please sign the online guestbook at www.mooresjacksonvillefuneralhome.com. Granny had a smile that could light up a room. She will be missed by all those whose lives she touched. "To live in hearts we leave behind is not to die." – Thomas Campbell