Celebrating the life of
Elaine Ryals Johnson
January 30, 1931 - November 08, 2015
Elaine Ryals Johnson, a Tybee Island resident, passed away peacefully on November 8, 2015 after a long battle with cancer. Her husband, Joseph Donald Johnson, preceded her in death. Lanie was born on January 30, 1931 in McRae, GA to Lec and Elaine Ryals and had one brother, Lec Jr. Lanie attended 14 schools in 12 years, due to her father’s construction business. She earned her Education degree from Valdosta State College and studied Theater at The University of Florida, where she was also on the diving team. She taught 3rd grade students in McRae, and then high school English in Atlanta. Lanie was a stewardess for Eastern Airlines in New York City and then became the Managing Editor of the Georgia State Medical Journal.
Lanie met her husband in McRae, and they dated for 3 years before marriage. They settled in Dallas, TX to start a family. She was heavily involved as an actress in local community theater and wrote a novel. She was the President of the PTA several times. Lanie had a heart of gold and was always the one who could lift your spirits. After her children graduated college, Lanie and Don retired to Tybee Island where she has lived for over 20 years. She was an avid artist and loved to play bridge. Her passion was the Savannah Theater and all of the wonderful people associated with it. She couldn’t wait to take her wonderful grandchildren to “the show” every time they visited.
Lanie is survived by her daughter Mary, and her sons Jim and Scott, daughters in law Jean (Jim) and Julia (Scott) and seven grandchildren, Emily, Caroline, Riley, Finley, Palmer, Creed, and Breck. Lanie had many, many friends and family, and will be truly missed.
The funeral service will be held 1:00 p.m., Friday, November 13, 2015 Fox & Weeks Funeral Directors, Hodgson Chapel, 7200 Hodgson Memorial Dr., Savannah, GA 31406. Interment will follow at Forest Lawn Memory Gardens, 315 Greenwich Rd., Savannah, GA 31404.
Lanie was a dear friend ofmine, and I already miss her.
- Bobby McManus, Tybee Island Ga 31328, Ga
Prayers for peace in your hearts to all of Mrs. Johnson's family and friends.
- The Lowe Family, Frisco , Texas
We send love and prayers for your whole family. God bless you all.
- David and Stacy Alberts, Frisco, TX
On behalf of Jim's entire Oracle family we wanted to express our deepest sympathies and condolences on the passing of your mother. May she rest in eternal peace.
- Oracle, Burlington, MA
?Lanie will be remembered by many and loved by all who had the blessing of meeting her! Condolences to the family, may she rest easy in God's arms.
- Barbara Cannon, Pt. Wentworth , Ga.
i am sorry for tour loss , deat h is never an easy thing to bare i can truly say i know how you feel because i just loss my mother two months ago it is very hard to bare that pain, but Jehovah promies a resurrection this gives me hope , please read John 5:28,29 this scripture will give the family comfort, again i am sorry for your loss.
- coopers, port wentworth, ga
My husband, Max Hall, and Lanie's husband, Don, were two of ten men initiated into Auburn University's Spade Society, which comprised the most outstanding and influential seniors of the 1953 senior class. Besides flesh and blood family, nothing said family quite like the bond of these ten Spades, which, eventually included wives. Lanie and I stayed close even after the deaths of our husbands. One of my lasting memories is Lanie and I going to Paris to connect with her daughter, Mary. Memories of New Year's Eve dining and attending the theater she helped support in Savannah. Her creative uniqueness, especially with her hands. Her life reflected all that she held most dear--integrity and courage. Sweet dreams, my dear friend. Regina
- Regina Hall, Orlando, FL
Share your condolences with the family
- Regina Hall, Orlando, FL
Dear Jim, Scot & Mary; I'm thinking of you and sending my love . Lanie was the dearest friend I've ever had and I will miss her sorely.I have many wonderful memories of our friendship of more than fifty years and I will cherish them until that day "I meet her at the gate."
- Elly Storey, Moultrie, Ga
Lanie was a dear friend ofmine, and I already miss her.
- Bobby McManus, Tybee Island Ga 31328, Ga
Prayers for peace in your hearts to all of Mrs. Johnson's family and friends.
- The Lowe Family, Frisco , Texas
We send love and prayers for your whole family. God bless you all.
- David and Stacy Alberts, Frisco, TX
On behalf of Jim's entire Oracle family we wanted to express our deepest sympathies and condolences on the passing of your mother. May she rest in eternal peace.
- Oracle, Burlington, MA
?Lanie will be remembered by many and loved by all who had the blessing of meeting her! Condolences to the family, may she rest easy in God's arms.
- Barbara Cannon, Pt. Wentworth , Ga.
i am sorry for tour loss , deat h is never an easy thing to bare i can truly say i know how you feel because i just loss my mother two months ago it is very hard to bare that pain, but Jehovah promies a resurrection this gives me hope , please read John 5:28,29 this scripture will give the family comfort, again i am sorry for your loss.
- coopers, port wentworth, ga
My husband, Max Hall, and Lanie's husband, Don, were two of ten men initiated into Auburn University's Spade Society, which comprised the most outstanding and influential seniors of the 1953 senior class. Besides flesh and blood family, nothing said family quite like the bond of these ten Spades, which, eventually included wives. Lanie and I stayed close even after the deaths of our husbands. One of my lasting memories is Lanie and I going to Paris to connect with her daughter, Mary. Memories of New Year's Eve dining and attending the theater she helped support in Savannah. Her creative uniqueness, especially with her hands. Her life reflected all that she held most dear--integrity and courage. Sweet dreams, my dear friend. Regina
- Regina Hall, Orlando, FL
Share your condolences with the family
- Regina Hall, Orlando, FL
Dear Jim, Scot & Mary; I'm thinking of you and sending my love . Lanie was the dearest friend I've ever had and I will miss her sorely.I have many wonderful memories of our friendship of more than fifty years and I will cherish them until that day "I meet her at the gate."
- Elly Storey, Moultrie, Ga
Services under the direction of:
Fox & Weeks Funeral Directors, Hodgson Chapel
912-352-7200
