Johannah Morrissey Fleetwood went to her eternal rest on May 10, 2008 at St. Alphonsus Medical Center in Boise, Idaho. She was born on June 26, 1916, at St. Elizabeth’s Hospital in Baker City. She was the daughter of
James and Kate Morrissey originally from County Wexford Ireland. In 1940, she married C.A. “Rastus” Fleetwood. Upon his enlistment in the Navy Seabees in 1942, she became a war bride until the conclusion of World War II in 1945.
She was raised on the family ranch in the Medical Springs/ Keating area. After the completion of the 8th grade at Medical Springs School, she enrolled in St. Francis Academy, and graduated from there in 1934. After attending Baker Business College she secured a job as bookkeeper with the Baker News Agency owned by Leo Adler. She retired from there in 1980 after over 40 years of service.
More than anything she loved her Lord, her Church and her family. Accordingly, she was a lifelong member of St. Francis de Sales Parish where she spent countless hours serving coffee and donuts, organizing funeral dinners, and participating in a myriad of other parish activities. She reluctantly retired as Altar Society Secretary at age 87 after she suffered her first heart attack. Johannah was quite an accomplished artist, and many of her paintings grace the homes of family and friends. Over the years we have fondly referred to her as the “professional volunteer.” She gave hours of service to many civic organizations including the Oregon Trail Interpretive Center, the Baker County Historical Museum, the Senior Center, the Community Concert Association, and Crossroads Art Center.
She will be sorely missed by her daughter Margaret Anne Steeves (Greg) of Boise, Idaho; grandsons Mark Steeves (Millisa) of Albuquerque, N.M.; Captain Geoffrey Steeves (Brye) of Kansas City, Mo. and Matthew Steeves of Bellevue, Ida.; She is also survived by sisters Marian (Calvin) Schwenk of Medford, Ore., Kathleen Franklin of Portland, Ore., sisters-in-law Sue Morrissey of Boise, Ida., and Evelyn Morrissey of Omaha, Neb., and numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins both in the United States and Ireland.
She was preceded in death by her parents, her loving husband, four brothers, Lawrence, Johnny, William P. and James Morrissey.
Rosary and viewing will be held at Gray’s West and Company Funeral Home on Tuesday May 20 at 7 p.m., (viewing from 2-7 p.m.) Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated at St. Francis de Sales Cathedral on May 21 at 2 p.m.
Internment will immediately follow at Mount Hope Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital, (www.stjude.com).
Used with permission from: The Record Courier, Baker City, Oregon, May 22, 2008
Transcribed by: Belva Ticknor