Tributes

María Gloria Johnson, nee García García, was received into the arms of her beloved Virgen Santa Maria on November 6, 2023. Her adored padres, her dear sister María Bernardina, and her querido husband “John” were also there to receive her, most certainly joyous to have this angel among them again. The many of us who deeply love her but are left behind, particularly her children Gloria María, María Rosario, John Francis, and Joseph Miles, go on with the dawning of each day forever a little less magnificent because she is gone. We find comfort in that she has found the peace she so greatly deserved, free from the ravages of the awful disease that tormented her last years. Gloria, as she was called, was the 3rd of four daughters--María del Carmen, María Bernardina, and María del Pilar--born to a farmer and his wife, Bernardino García Tutor and Eufemia García Enciso, in the village of Pozalmuro in the province of Soria, Spain. Her birthdate, May 16, 1936, just preceded the onset of the Spanish Civil War, and times were difficult. Indeed, male cousins and uncles were kidnapped and forced into military service for one side or another. The García García family survived the war and the atrocities that followed, but without sons to help on the farm, Bernardino would move with his wife and girls to the city. They arrived in Zaragoza in 1945, letting an apartment at Zumalacárregui 34, where Gloria lived until she married. Gloria was an excellent student, especially in math and languages. Studying German, French and English languages in addition to her native Castilian, English was her weakest. Hoping to hone their English, she and her best friend Conchita went to work at the PX at the US Air Force base of Zaragoza in 1958. Miles James Johnson frequented this little store, and there he would fall for Gloria and become her “little Johnny” (“Miles” was too strange a name for her to pronounce). He purchased an Omega watch from her then and wore it lovingly until the day he died earlier this year. The shy and petite Spanish Señorita and the dashing and kind American would marry May 14, 1960 at Nuestra Señora del Perpetuo Socorro. Later that same year, Gloria would embark with her new husband for America, coincidentally but fittingly leaving Spain on October 12, as did Christopher Columbus over 5 centuries earlier. She would arrive in the States on the 13th, and be officially welcomed by fellow flight passenger Chuck Yeager, a detail of her life she was quite proud of. The young couple stayed in Trenton with her in-laws, until they were transferred to Westover AFB, Massachusetts where her daughters were born. After a couple of years there, the family moved to Offut AFB, Nebraska , where her two sons were born. In 1967 the family would be stationed in Torrejón Madrid for four years. These were very happy years for the family as her children knew her family and lived the culture of her homeland, which she and her husband cherished. Her husband’s retirement from military life in 1971 brought the family back to the United States, where the young parents hoped opportunities for the children would be greatest. Gloria would live the rest of her life in San Antonio, Texas, with her husband. Mommy, as we called her, was the perfect lady, wife, and mother. Her patience, gentleness, and mindfulness were in everything that she did. And she could move like a Ninja; so quietly. Even though a poor farmer’s daughter, she took advantage of all she learned in school and at home. Her etiquette was pristine, from perfect manners to the thoughtfulness for others that etiquette is meant to serve. Her housekeeping and homemaking were beyond reproach; inspections of military housing in the early years to assure the apartments were being properly cared for by the enlistees and their families resulted in surprise at the quality of my mother’s touch. That quality and attention to detail never abated, even as she raised four children, sewing their clothes as well as their doll’s clothes, knitting their sweaters, hats and gloves and even embroidering their bedsheets. Her cooking was legendary, from her lamb stew, to her tallarines or canalones, and Uncle George’s favorite, “burnt hamburgers and onions”. But days were lonely when the children were at school and her husband was at work. She greatly missed her family in Spain even as she wrote to them regularly…expensive phone calls were not an option. So she began to volunteer at the Esparza Elementary School down the road attended by three of her children. From teacher’s aide she rose to valued principal’s secretary and the Bilingual Education Program, working for Northside Independent School District for 25 years. Many beautiful and lasting friendships blossomed from her working career. Mommy appreciated all the things she acquired in life, caring for them well and throwing very little away. How many times she would gently scold me on how much of the potato I was taking away with the peel! Nothing was wasted. Very little was discarded. Any of her possessions would always look brand new for the over 60 years she had them…dishes, furniture, clothes, etc. Mommy was a woman of great Catholic faith. This deep faith comforted her and guided her through all of her life’s doubts, loneliness, and challenges; the rosary was her meditation. Her beautiful spirituality filled her with the grace and kindness she personified. She also truly appreciated the material gifts of the world and bore her responsibilities in that stewardship. To this very day and onward her children look to her example for guidance and inspiration. What would mommy do? We pray that you stay with us always, dear, lovely mommy…the world is a scarier, sadder place without you.

Tributes

Maria Gloria Johnson

May 16, 1936 - November 6, 2023