Gladys Irene Johnson

Gladys Irene (Pearson) Johnson was born in Ronan, Montana on January 15, 1919. She was the third of 8 children born to Clinton Wilbur Pearson and Bessie Adelaide (White) Pearson. She passed away peacefully at her home in La Verne, California on December 21, 2009 at 90 years of age. Gladys is survived by her daughter, Karen Coke, grandchildren Kary and Kristin and great-grandchild Gregory; son, Ron; and daughter Tami Romani and her husband, Jim and grandchildren Nikki, Chris and Brandie. Her husband, Lloyd, preceded her in death on October 1, 2009. As a young teenager she felt a call on her life to devote herself to full time ministry. She was a gifted speaker, preacher and teacher of the Word of God, and always had a powerfully anointed message to deliver. Gladys married her husband of 71 years, Lloyd Robert Johnson, at the age of 19 in Portland, Oregon. After graduation from L.I.F.E. Bible College in Los Angeles in 1941, she and Lloyd began over 60 years of ministry with the Foursquare Gospel Church, their first assignment among many being a tiny church in Columbia City, Oregon on the banks of the mighty Columbia River. Several years later they embarked on an evangelistic tour with Gladys’ sister and her husband, Norma and Roy Mourer. The Mourer-Johnson Evangelistic Party criss-crossed the United States, Canada, and Mexico in a Spartan trailer between the years of 1948 – 1950. Gladys’ ministry progressed through the next several years by assisting Lloyd in his work with World Vision, Youth for Christ and Billy Graham’s film ministry. As the Christian Education Director in the Portland Foursquare Church, Gladys ran a Sunday School program for over 1500 children every Sunday. From there, Gladys pastored the Oakland Foursquare Church and moved to Arcadia, California in 1967 where she was senior pastor of Victory Chapel Foursquare Church for 21 years, until her retirement in 1988. Gladys took great pride and joy in her children and grandchildren, and will be remembered for her constant smile and joyful, positive attitude. She always believed the best in everyone. We will draw from her wisdom and insight for years to come. She will be deeply missed by her family and friends, but we rejoice in knowing she has been reunited in heaven with her beloved Lloyd and so many family members and friends who have gone before her. We welcome you to come celebrate her life: Saturday, January 16, 2010 at 2:00 p.m. at Victory Chapel Foursquare Church, 805 N. First Avenue, Arcadia , CA (626) 447-8471. Reception to follow in Johnson Hall. Graveside service will be Tuesday, December 29, 2009 at 11:00 a.m. at Live Oak Memorial Park, 200 E. Duarte Road, Monrovia, CA 91016.