Mary Moyars-Johnson

Mary Annis Moyars-Johnson of West Lafayette passed away peacefully in her West Lafayette home surrounded by her children on the afternoon of October 15, 2009. Mary Annis Moyars-Johnson was born in 1938, the daughter of the late Edward Moyars and Veronica Quigg Moyars, and grew up on the family farm west of Otterbein. A graduate of Otterbein High School, she received her Bachelor's degree in English and mathematics from Purdue University in 1960 and spent most of her career in public relations and fund raising work. At Purdue she was the first full-time PR person for the Department of Convocation and Lectures, launched the communication program for the School of Humanities, Social Science and Education, established the alumni relations program for the School of Electrical and Computer Engineering and concluded her career as associate vice president for communications of ITaP at Purdue. She served as PR Director for Sycamore Girl Scout Council and as director of media relations for the majority Caucus of the Indiana State Senate during the Centennial Legislative Session. She was a long-time member of the Association for Women in Communications, was a member of the Board of Governors for the Tippecanoe County Historical Association from 1986 to 1997, a member of the Board of Directors of the Center for French Colonial Studies from 1986 to 1988 and from 2006 to 2007. Long active with the Tippecanoe County Historical Association, she participated in various roles at the Feast of the Hunters' Moon since 1973, earned a master's in history and anthropology from Purdue in 1991, and developed the trader's cabin exhibit at Ouiatenon in 2004. Mary Annis is co-author of French Colonial Dress and author of Colonial Potpourri, and Ouiatanon - the French Post Among the Ouia. Her essay on Ouiatenon is scheduled to appear in Colonial Fortifications in North America: 1562-1763 to be published by The John Hopkins University Press. She was married twice: in 1959 to the late Raymond Molter and in 1973 to Thomas Elmer Johnson. Both marriages ended in divorce. She is survived by six children: Marilyn Davis, of Lauderhill, Florida, William Johnson of Markle, Indiana, Ann Guentert (companion Ray Peery) of Drake, Colorado, Thomas Edward Johnson of Otterbein, Indiana, John Johnson (wife Saritali) of Bloomington, Indiana, and Barbara Camp (husband Paul) of Lakewood Colorado. She also is survived by five grandchildren: Erich, Rachel, Blaine and Brett Johnson of Bluffton, Indiana and Patrick Camp of Lakewood, Colorado.
Friends may call at St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church, West Lafayette, from 5 until 7 P.M. Monday, with Mass of Christian Burial at 7:00 P.M. Monday, Fr. Daniel Davis, O.P. officiating. Graveside service 10:30 AM Tuesday, Oxford Catholic Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Tippecanoe County Historical Foundation or to St. Thomas Aquinas Center at Purdue. HAHN-GROEBER FUNERAL HOME is caring for the family. Memories and condolences may be left at www.hahngroeberfuneralhome.com.