Roberta Lawret Isobel Johnson's Obituary
Roberta Lawret Isobel Johnson (Magarrell)
Roberta passed away Sunday, January 1, 2012, age 69 at her home in Provo, Utah. Funeral services are as follows: Viewing at the chapel on 1081 West 1060 North in Provo on Thursday from 6 to 8 pm; another brief viewing before the funeral service on Friday at the chapel from 11 - 11:45 pm followed by the Service at 12 pm. She will be buried immediately after at the Utah Veterans Cemetery located at 11711 Camp Williams Road, Bluffdale, Utah 84065.
Roberta was born September 13, 1942 in Fort William, Ontario Canada. She married her 1st husband Jim Magarrell who had passed away December of 2004. They were sealed in the Salt Lake City Temple on May 27, 1966. She then married Lee Johnson on November 12, 2010, just one day after her diagnosis of stage 4 pancreatic cancer. She had also already lost her father Gordon, her mother Anita, brother Wilbert and sister, Gayle.
She is survived by her husband Lee; sister, Carol; brother, Tom; several other beloved nieces and nephews that reside in Canada, and her precious boys, James, Jeff, Robert and David.
She fulfilled her childhood dreams of helping orphans in Romania. This happened through a PHD in Family Sciences at Brigham Young University (BYU) which she completed at age 55. As an internship coordinator for that department she had students at orphanages in Romania, and visited there herself on several occasions. At BYU she also taught in the Religion department, taught human development courses and lastly was the Director of Family and Social Services and Undergraduate Internships.
She was very crafty and was often seen crocheting, knitting, doing machine embroidery, quilt making, and other crafts. She loved swimming, singing, dancing, musical performances, and getting down on the ground to play with her grandchildren who lovingly referred to her as the “Zippity Do Da Grandma.”
She adored all children especially her own and took every opportunity to speak highly of them no matter the trouble they might be causing. She would do anything for any of her children. She set a wonderful example to all as a true saint in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.
She truly will be missed by many, and we hope that her legend of Faith, Hope and Charity may continue on into future generations.
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