Edna E. B. Johnson

Edna Evaline Blanche Bliss Spealman Johnson went home peacefully to her heavenly Father on March 26, 2015, at Valley Vista Care. She was the seventh of ten children born to Henry and Margaret Wood Bliss on February 16, 1920, in Bottineau, North Dakota. All of her siblings preceded her in death. She placed her faith and trust in Jesus Christ at a young age and boldly served Him with gratitude and joy the rest of her life. She moved to Sandpoint in 1938. On June 4, 1940, she married Charles Warren Spealman. They had three children: Stephen (Carol) of Post Falls, Sandra (Nelson) Pitotti of Sandpoint, and Joel (Jennifer) of Phoenix, AZ. Charles preceded her in death in 1968. A few years later Charles Lewis Johnson, a high school classmate, started courting her and they were married on September 16, 1975. Edna enjoyed being around young people. She was the cook at Lincoln Elementary for several years and was famous for her cinnamon rolls every Thursday. She was den mother for Cub Scouts, VBS and Sunday School teacher, Guardian for Job’s Daughter Bethel # 9, Grand Guardian of Job’s Daughters for the State of Idaho and supported DeMolay while her sons were involved. Serving as Councilwoman for the City of Sandpoint and as a Board Member for the Co-op were very rewarding for her. She also belonged to Martha Chapter OES where she served as Worthy Matron. She worked for JC Penneys for almost 30 years where she was a clerk, office manager and opened the catalog department. After that she was the office manager for Panhandle Credit Union and worked during tax time for the County Treasurer’s office. She is survived by her children: Sandra, Joel and “adopted” son George (Jenise) Eskridge of Dover, ID as well as her grandchildren: Bryan (Amy) Pitotti of Wildomar, CA; Chris (Angela) Pitotti of Spokane Valley, WA; Alissa (Dan) Piesch of Kent, WA; Stephanie (Neil) Oliver of Rathdrum; Steven (Betty) Spealman of Wasilla, AK; Teela (Camren) Hofbauer of Missoula, MT; Pieter Spealman of Pittsburg, PA; Sue Kennedy (Chuck Gasmann) of Minot, ND; Perry (Krisann) Eskridge of Ferndale, WA; and Jim Eskridge of Spokane Valley, WA. She is also survived by 14 great-grandchildren and one great-great granddaughter plus numerous nieces and nephews and two sister-in-laws Edna Bliss of Olympia, WA and Jacqualine Hines of Sandpoint. She was preceded in death by her son Stephen, daughter-in-law Lillian Fox Spealman and husband Charles Lewis Johnson. A memorial (celebration of life) will be held at Coffelt’s Funeral Chapel on May 2, at 11:00 am with a luncheon to follow. The family would like to thank the staff of The Bridge, Valley Vista Care, Bonner Community Hospice and Dr. Frazier King for the wonderful care that Edna and the family received from all of them. In lieu of flowers memorials may be made to the Shriners Hospital (911 W 5th Ave, Spokane, WA 99204) or Bonner Community Hospice (602 N 3rd Ave, Sandpoint, ID 83864).