Sherma Kaye Johnson Andrus

On September 27, 2019, our beloved mother, grandmother, sister, aunt, and friend, Sherma Kaye Johnson Andrus passed away at her home in Providence, Utah. Sherma was born July 26, 1940 in Vernal, Utah to James Wallace and Lela Goodrich Johnson. She married and was then sealed to Joseph Milo Andrus in the Salt Lake Temple in 1968. Her passing marks her triumph over 40 years of struggles with four different types of cancer which began in 1975. Through these years of challenge, she has remained a tower of strength to all who knew her.

As the daughter of a Church Education System seminary teacher, her family moved between Lyman, Wyoming and Vernal, Utah for her elementary school years. In 1951, Sherma's older sister, Pat, contracted polio and the family moved to Bountiful, Utah where Pat could receive the care she needed. Sherma's schooling continued in Bountiful where she was involved in many activities and graduated with high honors.

She studied at Brigham Young University for two years after which she served a mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the Southwest Indian Mission. She loved her mission and it influenced her life for good in the years to come. Upon returning from her mission, she had the unique opportunity to work as the secretary to Elder Gordon B. Hinckley, then a member of the Quorum of The Twelve Apostles. This was a most wonderful experience and over the years she shared about occasions when Elder Hinckley would ask her to just put her notebook down and he would lean back in his chair and reminisce about many things.

She left her Church employment to return to school at the University of Utah where she graduated cum laude as a teacher of the deaf. She taught for a year at the Utah School for the Deaf in Ogden, Utah, and then did post graduate work at Columbia University in New York and at Smith College in Northampton, Massachusetts. As her health and family allowed, Sherma had many teaching opportunities throughout her life, with her last years of teaching being at Adams Elementary School in Logan, Utah.

Sherma’s and Milo’s careers took their family to Virginia, Utah, California, Florida, and Idaho and then finally back to Utah. Sherma was a fun and devoted wife, mother and grandmother. She loved serving in many callings in the Church among which were in the Scouting Program and as Relief Society President. Her sense of humor, infectious laughter and quick wit will ever be a reminder to us how to live our lives no matter the trials before us. Though Sherma’s recent years left her with great physical challenges, her mind and her spirit rose to great heights. She read prodigiously, particularly the works of living prophets and apostles which brought her ever nearer to her beloved Savior. Her imprint on our world is indelible. Her indomitable spirit remains with us as we move forward to fill her mortal shoes. We look with anticipation to our future grand reunion.

Sherma was preceded in death in 2001 by her husband Milo, and in 2002 by her son, Christopher Boyce Andrus; also, a brother, James Byron and sister Patricia Anne. She is survived by her sons David Milo (Jadie) Ammon, Idaho and Jonathan Brent (Bethany) in Layton, Utah; her treasured grandchildren Tylor Milo, Eric Joseph, Kaelyn Marie, Milo Christopher, Liv Carmen, and Emilia Susan. Sherma's surviving siblings are Rey Johnson (Carolyn) Highland, Utah, Wayne Johnson (Dora) Saint Anthony, Idaho, and Wyoma Lund (Hank) Providence Utah, along with numerous nieces and nephews.

Funeral services will be held in the Cobblestone 2nd Ward Meetinghouse at 420 West 100 North, Providence, Utah on Friday, October 4, 2019 at 12:00 noon, with a viewing prior from 10:00 to 11:30 a.m. Interment will follow at the Logan City Cemetery. Condolences may be shared with the family at www.allenmortuaries.com

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Guide Dogs for the Blind, National Association for the Deaf or The LDS Humanitarian Fund.