Vera Ola Johnson

Vera Ola Peters Johnson of Mesquite passed away gently into the presence of the Lord on Thursday, 4/14/2022 at the age of 98 , surrounded by her loving family.

Vera is survived by her two daughters, Barbara Melton of Cedar Hill and Glenda Perry of Rowlett; her only granddaughter, Amy Melton of Cedar Hill; brother and his wife, Vernon and Martha Peters of Mesquite; numerous nieces, nephews and loving friends.

Vera was preceded in death by her husband, Euil; her parents, Robert and Mary Evelyn Peters; one sister, Dorothy Ayers and her husband Clifton; three brothers, Jack, Herman and Bill Peters and his wife, Janette; and two nephews, Dennis and Ronald Ayers.

She was born June 3, 1923, in Gholson, TX, to Robert and Mary Evelyn Peters. During her earlier years, she and her family moved around quite a bit, as her dad worked on various farms, helping with planting and harvesting. She started school at Tripp Elementary School (presently Sunnyvale), and every time she passed the little Tripp Baptist Church, at Collins and Tripp Roads, she would so fondly mention, “That is where I graduated 6th grade.” She was promoted to Mesquite Schools where she attended 7th grade through 11th (only had 11 grades back then) until 1942. She loved school, especially literature and math. During the summer, when she was still in high school, she would work at the Pink Elephant Café in Forney and lived at Mrs. Adam’s Boarding House. After completing high school, she worked at the Sears and Roebuck warehouse on Lamar Street in Dallas, filling catalog orders. She held a variety of office jobs throughout the years. After a few years off, in 1972, she began working at the new Sanger-Harris Department Store when it opened at Town East Mall. She continued working there for 16 years, retiring from then Foley’s Department Store in 1988.

Vera and her mother were two of the founding members of First Assembly of God Church in Mesquite, where she and her husband, Euil, attended church until 2006. At that time, feeling led by the Lord, they moved their membership to Christian Center of Mesquite. She never missed an opportunity to talk with anyone about the Lord. Even when her health declined and she couldn’t attend church, her heart and spirit were there. She always missed not being able to attend to church.

On Sunday, February 11, 1945, she took the bus from Mesquite to Carrollton to attend church with her Aunt Lucille. After church, she had a layover at the Continental Bus Station in downtown Dallas. She recalls sitting at the lunch counter having a soda, when this handsome young man sat down beside her. They struck up a conversation and, as mother would always tell us, “It was truly love at first sight.” Euil was from Terrell, so they were both taking the same bus home, traveling East from downtown. They continued their conversation and as they say, “The rest is history.” They started corresponding, and after a few dates were married three short weeks later, on March 3, 1945, in a Baptist minister’s office in Terrell. Their love affair lasted for 67 years until Euil’s death on November 1, 2012.

Vera was a devoted wife, mother and Christian servant who loved cooking, sewing, keeping house, and taking care of her family. She and Euil were both committed to serving the Lord and were faithful in attending church whenever the doors were open. She and Euil lived their lives as examples to others and raised their daughters, Barbara and Glenda, in a loving, Christian home.

In 2014, after a couple of minor heath issues, it was decided she couldn’t live by herself at her home in Mesquite any longer. At that time, she moved in with Glenda, where she lived until her death. As ravages of dementia were beginning to settle in, and she couldn’t be left alone anymore, during the summer of 2018, Barbara left her home and came to live with Glenda to help take care of their mother. At first, it was the loss of her short-term memory and then slowly her long-term memory faded, and then in this last year, there were times she didn’t know family or where she was. However, she would never hesitate to tell everyone she loved them, even if it was the first time meeting them. Barbara and Glenda feel blessed to have had this opportunity to take care of their sweet and precious Mother. God was so faithful to spare her from pain and gently take her home. We can only imagine the glorious reunion with her family and being in the presence of her Lord and Savior!

Barbara and Glenda would like to thank the wonderful, kind caregivers who have shown her such love and compassion. Gaida and Angie, our Granny Nannies, who from time to time, would provide us with a few hours of respite. Also, VITAS Hospice who took such diligent care of her this past year. Andy, Stephanie and Julia, her nurses, and her precious, sweet aide, Latasha -- you all are truly Angels on Earth.

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