Sarah Edna Johnson

Edna was at 2 years old diagnosed with polio and was sent to Children's Hospital in Oklahoma City and spent the next six months in an iron lung.  She came home and was told by doctors that she would never walk without braces or crutches; she would never be able to have children and would maybe live to see 50 years old.  But she always had to prove everyone wrong and argue and be right.  She sang country music and she waitressed for 35 years.  She bore many children and almost made it to 71.  She was a rule breaker, that old woman.  With all that God gave her to bear her burdens were heavy but she carried them with grace and courage.  She never met a stranger and you never questioned  where you stood with her.  Everyone that passed through her life was affected by her love and honesty.

Sarah Edna Johnson "Okie", 70, of Poteau, OK passed away  Friday, July 17, 2015 in Fort Smith, AR.  Sarah was born  August 11, 1944 in Calhoun, OK to Robert Lafayette & Flora Mae (Pool) Phillips.  She was a singer/waitress.   Sarah was preceded in death by her parents; daughter, Rhonda Neese; sons, Augie Chincarini & Glenn King; brothers, Waren, John & Tommy; sisters, Mae Shook, Ruth Quintana, Grace Slone and Mary Ophelia Phillips.

She is survived by her children, Julie Davis & Alfred Martin, Martha & Tom Allen, Missy Collins, Steve & Nick Sorta, Julie & Nathan Morris, Lova & Jacob Wiggers, Carmen Machado, John O'Connor; special friend, Verna Kegan; numerous grandchildren and great grandchildren; giving special mention to her granddaughter, Amethyst Johnson, who has spent her entire young life caring for her grandmother; & her niece, Kathy Lee Phillips who made these last few years so much easier for her; brothers & sisters, Bob & Sandy Phillips of  Minola, TX, Ophelia Collins of Middletown, ID;  Billie & Gene Sanders of Bixby, OK, Martha Harris of San Antonio, TX, Wilma Phillips of Jacksonville, AR; numerous nieces, nephews, cousins 1-7th removed, greats and great greats and friends, Oh, My!!.  She touched more lives than we could ever mention but she loved all of you.

Memorial services will be held on July 31, 2015 around 7 pm at Victor Landing, starting off the family reunion.  She was cremated so she will be there!  If you cannot be there, just walk outside about that time and know that you are with us in spirit.