Ella Faye Johnson

Ella Faye (Flenniken) Johnson, (June 2, 1921 – December 11, 2023) made her last journey to join all those that passed before her. (Their gain, our loss).

To all who knew Ella Faye, her personality, her intelligence, her compassion and interest in each person whose path she crossed, is a memory to behold.

Growing up as an orphan at age 10 in Texas, during the depression years, she was raised by grandparents, aunts and uncles. She earned a college degree from Texas Women’s University, Denton, TX and became a teacher—a role she would revisit often.

She turned down a blind date five times with a handsome Marine instrument flight instructor. His proposal was, “Do you think you could live on a farm in Wisconsin?” They married four months later on February 19, 1944, and she became Mrs. Wayne Johnson.

They began a nursery and floral business in 1946 in Westfield, WI. The greenhouses were built with windmill angle iron and wood from beer vats. Later they added a flower shop, Portage Floral in Portage. She was a very skilled florist for over 40 years and continued both businesses after her husband passed in 1971.

Dixie and Dale Spees took over the Westfield business. Ella Faye returned to teaching, first as a substitute teacher at Westfield High, then she had a 20-year career teaching maximum security prisoners at the Federal Correctional Institute-Oxford/Brooks.

Her students graduated with college degrees in Culinary Arts. She cared for them. Their education provided them with skills for careers when they were released. She retired at age 75 to move to Middleton Glen to spend time with her grandson.

Ella Faye was a member of the Society of Mayflower Descendants, American Legion Auxiliary and Westfield Presbyterian Church. Her community service included Wisconsin Association of Women Highway Safety Leaders, Wisconsin Extension Homemakers, and 4-H leader.

Her interests included genealogy of the Dickinson, Flenniken and Buckelew families in Texas. At Middleton Glen her activities included the Flower committee, Genealogy Group, Bingo and being a friend to everyone she met.

She was a strong supporter of Operation Migration, the ultralight migration of Whooping Cranes flying from Wisconsin to Florida. She loved watching Eagle nesting cams. Ella Faye was proficient using computer technology for emails, Facebook and Google searches.

Ella Faye was proud to have traveled to all 50 states and all seven continents. Her trip of a lifetime with her daughters was to the Holy Land in 2019.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her sister, Jean Allen; her husband, Wayne Lee Johnson; and grandson, Austin Johnson-Voice. She is survived by daughters, Barbara Johnson Borders and Mary Ellen Johnson in Madison, WI.

For memorials please consider, the Marquette County Historical Society-Westfield, Wis., Middleton Glen Legacy Fund-Middleton, Wis., and Agrace HospiceCare-Fitchburg, Wis.

Burial will be at the East Cemetery at Westfield, Wisconsin.

All Faiths Funeral & Cremation Services of Madison is assisting the family. For online obit/condolences please visit www.866allfaiths.com.