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Marjorie W. Johnston, 88, formerly of Donora and Belle Vernon, passed away Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2009, at Mt. Macrina Manor, Uniontown, following a lengthy battle with Alzheimer's Disease. She was the last surviving member of her immediate family. She was born Oct. 17, 1921, in Blairsville, the seventh of nine children born to the late Ira Lavan and Nellie (Kirkland) Rosborough. On Oct. 5, 1945, she married Harry Johnston, who died Sept. 1, 1961. Following the death of her beloved husband, she supported her children working as a beautician. She continued working for many years as a beautician and as an in-home caretaker. Margie was well known in the Mon Valley for baking beautiful wedding and special occasion cakes. An avid artist and writer, she enjoyed drawing and writing poems about her many grandchildren and nieces and nephews. She took great pride having several of her poems and short stories published. She also loved to make handmade blankets and baby dolls. But the role she relished most was being a devoted mother, grandmother and ""Aunt Margie."" She loved cooking Sunday and holiday dinners for her large family and looked forward to attending the annual Rosborough Fourth of July family reunion, which just celebrated its 100th year. She especially loved Christmas, when she would dress up as Santa Claus and visit her grandchildren's homes on Christmas Eve with bags full of gifts. She leaves behind to cherish her memory her five children, Judy Alund and husband Bill of White Oak, Tom Johnston and wife Germaine of McMurray, Harry Johnston and wife Mary Ann of Belle Vernon, Jeanne Peach and husband Paul of Phoenix, Ariz., and Joy Sethman and partner Charlie Palcic of Bentleyville; 16 grandchildren, who she loved dearly, Carol Druga (Mark) of Greenock, Amy Stipanovic (Ray), of Boston, Pa. Bill Alund (Jennifer), of White Oak, Jody West of Gainesville, Fla., Bob Alund (Latasha) of White Oak, Jennifer Johnston of Canonsburg, Laurie Johnston of Belle Vernon, Mac Johnston (Jody), of Belle Vernon, Dr. Richard Johnston of League City, Texas, Bob Johnston, of Belle Vernon, Christian Lehr (Deborah), of Phoenix, Ariz., Daniel Lehr (Heather), of Flagstaff, Ariz., Mark Lehr (Noah) of Phoenix, Ariz., Stacy Wolford (Rob Freshwater), of Roscoe, Angela Conley (Ryan), of Beaver Falls, and Aaron Sethman of Washington, D.C.; 19 great-grandchildren, who called her ""GiGi,"" Casey and Nick Druga, Megan Linebaugh (Jono), Stevie and Leah Stipanovic, Ellie West, Kyle, Gaven and Dorian Alund, Tori Johnston, Chase Johnston, Connor and Gabriel Lehr, Evan, Marissa and Zander Lehr, Jordan and Jacob Wolford, and Kylie Ryan Conley; and two great-great-grandchildren, Liam and Callie Jane Linebaugh. She is also survived by a sister-in-law, Mrs. Ruth Rosborough of Donora; many nieces, nephews, cousins, and other friends and relatives she all loved dearly and whose birthdays she never forgot. In addition to her parents and husband, she was preceded in death by her eight brothers and sisters, Robert, Thelma (Rosborough) Shearer, William, James, Lloyd, Ruth (Rosborough) Koday, Walter and Donald Rosborough; and a great-granddaughter, Jocelyn Lehr. Friends will be received 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 P.M. Wednesday and 11:30 A.M. to 12:30 P.M. Thursday, the time of services, in the Ferguson Funeral Home and Crematory, Inc., 700 Broad Avenue, Belle Vernon, 724-929-5300. www.FergusonFuneralHomeAndCrematory.com Rev. Kathy Barnhart, pastor of the Hope United Methodist Church of McKeesport will officiate. Interment will be in Belle Vernon Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in Marjorie W. Johnston's memory to Mt. Macrina Manor, 520 W. Main St., Uniontown, Pa. 15401.

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Marjorie W. Johnston

October 17, 1921 - November 3, 2009