Phyllis Ann Johnson, 86, of Canon City, Colorado passed away on April 30, 2018 under the care of Fremont Regional Hospice. She was born April 1, 1932 to Enoch “Skinny” H. Reed and Irene M. (Whyte) Reed.
Phyllis grew up in Wray, Colorado spending some years in Denver and graduated from Wray High School in 1950. She attended, graduated and taught at Barns Business School in Denver, Colorado where she became friends with Bert and Eddie Holiman who set her up on a blind date with her husband of now 62 years, H.B. (Benny) Johnson.
Phyllis and Benny were married on New Year’s Eve, 1955 in Wray, Colorado and built a loving home and family in Canon City, Colorado.
Their first child, Sherry Lynn, was born in 1956 and soon passed. The second child, Wanda, was born in 1958 and their third child, Tessa, was born in 1959.
Benny and Phyllis enjoyed a life full of family, dancing, Friday night dinners with friends, traveling and afternoon rides to the mountains. Phyllis was accomplished at needle point, knitting and crocheting, all of which can be found in her children’s homes. When her mother passed away, Phyllis made 17 Afghans that year for Skinny to give as Christmas presents in remembrance of Irene. Family and friends were the most important to Phyllis. She was a rainbow girl and became the mother advisor when her daughters became rainbow girls. She belonged to PEO, served one term on the school board and was active with the First Christian Church. Phyllis worked as an administrative assistant for various principals at Canon City High School and later for the Abbot at Holy Cross Abbey.
As her children grew and had children of their own Phyllis, with Benny, found great joy and laughter involving themselves in the lives of their grandchildren and great-grandchildren. For the last five years you could find Phyllis driving her beloved Mini Cooper with license plate holder “Never under estimate the power of a red head” and sharing “Vitamin H”(hugs) with those she knew.
Phyllis is survived by her husband, Benny Johnson; her children, Wanda (Steve) Calhoon and Tessa Johnson of Greeley, Colorado; grandchildren, Aaron (Audra) Calhoon of Brighton, Colorado; Ryan (Brittany) Calhoon of Eaton, Colorado; great-grandchildren, Brooke, Taylor, Sterling and Bennett; sister-in-law, Bert Holiman of Kona, Hawaii; Theo Reed of Valdesta, Georgia and Cleora Fix of Wray, Colorado along with 13 nieces and nephews.
Phyllis was preceded in death by both parents, Enoch(Skinny) and Irene Reed; sister, Betty Fix; brother, Glen Reed; daughter, Sherry Lynn Johnson; brothers-in-law, C. Edward “Eddie” Holiman and George Fix and niece, Amy Fix.
Funeral service, 11:00 a.m. Thursday, May 10, 2018, First Christian Church, 320 N 16th St, Cañon City, CO 81212.
In lieu of flowers please make donations to Fremont Regional Hospice, 1439 Main St, Cañon City, CO 81212 or The Museum of Colorado Prisons, 201 1st St, Cañon City, CO 81212.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Phyllis Ann Johnson, please visit our Heartfelt Sympathies Store.