Nancy Johnson

Nancy Humphrey Johnson, 87, died peacefully on January 21, 2020 in Destin, Florida. 

She was born on February 24, 1932 to Stephen and Margaret Humphrey and grew up in Quincy, Massachusetts with five older brothers (Stephen, Harvey, Edwin, Gerald, Kenneth) and a younger sister (Mary Jane). Her siblings preceded her in death, most recently her sister last year. 

Nancy was a New England beauty with sparkling blue eyes, perfectly styled hair, and vibrant charm. She graduated from North Quincy High School in 1950 and then attended secretarial school and worked in Boston during her twenties. Many young men were smitten by Nancy Humphrey, but her heart was won by Bobby Johnson, a recent MIT graduate from nearby Milton. They met on a road trip with mutual friends to see a Rutgers football game. That circle of friends remained close throughout their entire lives.

Nancy and Bob married on May 23, 1959 and began life together in New York. Bob’s civil engineering work took them back to Massachusetts for a few years, then Virginia, and finally Fort Myers, Florida, a growing community in which they flourished for many years and gained more great friendships. Along the way they raised four children (all born within six years!) who kept Nancy very busy and occasionally exasperated but mostly happy, as she would describe that time in later years. She and Bob lived a life of deep love for each other and their family.

When Bob retired, they moved to Hernando, Florida, and made more friends who enriched their lives. After Bob died in 2016 at age 86, Nancy moved to Somerby Santa Rosa Beach to live near her daughter and enjoy each day in one more circle of family and friends.

Among those celebrating Nancy’s life are her four children, their spouses, and ten grandchildren: son Robert Johnson, his wife Susan, their son Elijah and his wife Kaitlin, and sons Gabriel and Zachary; daughter Lauri Woods, her husband Ellis, their daughter Margaret and her husband Jamie, and sons Michael and Matthew; son Richard, his wife Ellie, and their daughters Kai and Naomi; and son Peter, his wife Christine, and their daughter Natalie and son Saunder. Nancy was also much loved by many nieces, nephews, and lifelong friends in the Boston area and beyond.

A private service of Committal will be held at Milton Cemetery on February 15.

The family encourages those who wish to honor the memory of Nancy Johnson to make a donation to one of her favorite charities, Habitat for Humanity (habitat.org).