Norma D. (Spires) Johnson

Norma D. Johnson, 89, of Carterville, went to be with The Lord, on Friday, November 29, 2024, at Franklin County Hospital in Benton.  The Carbondale native was the daughter of the late Lemuel Spires and Laura (Carico) Spires.  In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Carson E. Johnson, and her siblings, Robert and Pauline Spires. 

Mrs. Johnson was a 1953 graduate of Carbondale Community High School. She earned a BME degree from the Indiana University School of Music in 1957.  She taught private piano lessons for 16 years before embarking on a 34-year career teaching elementary music in the Carterville Unit Schools.  She was a beloved musician who served as an accompanist for multiple school and community musical productions and scores of student solos and musical ensembles. Over the years, she inspired numerous students to pursue amateur and professional music careers.

As a music teacher in all of the Tri-C elementary schools, she had the rare privilege of influencing every student who attended those schools for more than three decades.   

She was a member of Carterville First United Methodist Church where she served as pianist and organist for 63 years. 

She is survived by her daughters, Pamela Kimball (Allan) of Benton, Illinois and Gail Scimeca of Park Ridge, Illinois; a son, Dr. Douglas Johnson (Cynthia) of Bowling Green, Kentucky; 8 grandchildren; and 5 great-grandchildren. 

Funeral services will be held at 1:00 P.M., on Saturday, December 7, 2024, at Riggin-Pillatsch & Burke Funeral Home in Carterville, with Pastor Larry Gilbert officiating.  Burial will be at Oakland Cemetery in Carbondale.  Visitation will be from 11:00 A.M. to 1:00 P.M., Saturday, at the funeral home.

Memorial contributions can be made to the Carterville First United Methodist Church.

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