Julia Johnson Obituary

Julia Ann Johnson, 84, of Limon, CO passed away on July 18, 2025 in Limon, CO at home.

One of eleven children, Julia was born on December 18, 1940 to Harry Earl and Mary May (Shaw) Watson in Colorado Springs, CO. She graduated from Simla High School in 1958.

Julia married Richard (Dick) Lyons in 1983, and they made their home in Limon, CO for 42 years. Julia worked hard as a bar tender and a waitress where she made many lifelong friends. She enjoyed encouraging her children in their various activities, whether it was sports or music, and this continued for her grandchildren and great grandchildren as well. As often as she could, she would go to their games or concerts and enjoyed watching them grow. Julia took great pleasure in her husband, family, and her many dogs over the years that were considered part of the family. It was an annual tradition that her family would gather for Christmas Eve to celebrate at her home with chili, presents, and going to see the local Christmas light displays…which of course her house was one of the most lit up! Everyone always left with an ice cream bucket full of homemade fudge, cookies, divinity, and peanut brittle! Julia and Dick loved spending time at Sterling Reservoir during the summers fishing with her nephew Wes and attending the hot air balloon festival in Colorado Springs over Labor Day weekend. One of their most memorable trips was driving to Los Angeles on a service call. In later years Julia and Dick enjoyed spending time out and about around town keeping tabs on the local community.

Julia collected clowns, hot air balloons, snowmen, and as her family continued to grow, she displayed pictures of her grandchildren and many great-grandchildren. Julia also enjoyed many artistic talents throughout her life. She baked and decorated cakes, sewed clothing and made other hand-made items for family and friends. She also enjoyed ceramics, and after the 1990 Tornado that hit Limon, invested in making “I Survived” t-shirts for the community. Julia also loved to garden. She took great pride in her lawn and loved to plant flowers. She always had a fantastic vegetable garden. Julia always included her family in her various activities, making wonderful memories and establishing traditions that will be passed down through the generations.

Julia was preceded in death by her parents, siblings Calvin, Harry, Margaret, Marvin, Betty, Donald, Evelyn, June, Ronald and Fern, stepson Dennis Lyons, grandson Joshua Kelly and great-grandson Michael Erwin Waite.

Julia is survived by her husband Richard (Dick) Lyons, her children; Nora (Lynette) Kelly, Richard Johnson, Lorna Schideler, and Charles Johnson, stepchildren; Kimby McAfee and Marlon Lyons, grandchildren; Justin Schideler, Jamie Doi, Jordan Smithson, Megan Waite, Dylon Lyons, Lukas Lyons and Benjamin Jozwiak. Great-grandchildren: Jayden Kelly, Elysa Kelly, Kaitlyn Kelly, Kyara Doi, Kian Doi, Sturgill Schideler, Gentry Waite, Nash Waite, Olivia Sharp, Milo Lyons, and Jayden Jozwiak, as well as numerous nieces, nephews, cousins, and dear friends.