Obituary of Leona Pearl (Johnson) Atkins, Wife of Chester Burton "Chet" Atkins

Obituary of Leona Pearl (Johnson) Atkins, wife of Chester Burton "Chet" Atkins

Extracted from obituary published by Harpeth Hills Memory Gardens Funeral Home & Cremation Center, Nashville, Georgia (HarpethHills.com)

Name of Deceased: Leona Johnson Atkins

Age: 85

Residence: Nashville, Tennessee

Death: 21 October 2009

Born: 12 September 1924

Birthplace: Williamsburg, Ohio, U.S.

Parents: H.C. and Merle Johnson

Twin Sister: Lois [Johnson]

Occupation: Singer (singing duo with sister)

Group/Band: The Johnson Twins

Media Affiliation: WLW Radio, Cincinnati [Ohio]

Spouse: Chet Atkins

Date of marriage: 1946 (husband preceded her in death)

Preceding relatives: H.C. and Merle Johnson (parents); Walter, Elton, and John Johnson (brothers); Lois Burns, Dorothy Fomorin, Betty Riggs, Evelyn Adamson, Ann Phillips, and Ruth Marie Riggs (sisters).

Surviving sisters: Norma Jean Fox of Dayton, Ohio; Virginia Komo of Milford, Ohio; Catherine Smith of Milford, Ohio; Shirley Kautz of Dayton, Ohio; and Florence Ritchey of Mt. Orab, Ohio.

Other Survivors: Merle Atkins Russell (daughter); Amanda Sawyer Chad (granddaughter); Jonathan Russell Carrie (grandson); Earl Johnson of Hamilton, Ohio (brother); Billie Rose Shockley (sister-in-law). Also surviving: nieces, nephews, great-grandchildren.

Caregiver: Dr. Bruce Richards and others.

Visitation and Memorial Service: Saturday, 24 October (2009).

Location: Harpeth Hills Funeral Home [Nashville, Tennessee].

Interment: [Saturday, 24 October 2009], Harpeth Hills Memory Gardens.

Pallbearers: Shannon Bare, David Conrad, Vince Gill, Jonathan Russell, Chad Sawyer, Tim Shockley, Steve Wariner, Harry Warner, William Russell.

Honorary Pallbearers: Gary Atkins, Chris Anderson, Gloria bass, Pat Bergeson, Don and Phil Everly, Garrison Keillor, Kevin King, Nina Sivek, Ray Stevens, Bonnie Taggert, Brandon Taylor, Cindy Taylor, Matthew Taylor, and Paul Yandell.

Charity Organizations: Willowbrook Hospice, Franklin, Tennessee; and Chet Atkins Music Education Fund, Nashville, Tennessee.

Leona Johnson Atkins obituary, Harpeth Hills Memory Gardens Funeral Home & Cremation Center (website), HarpethHills.com. https://www.harpethhills.com/obit/atkins-leona-johnson/. Accessed 04 October 2016.

Also published on FamilySearch.com under Leona Pearl Johnson's biographical data.