Mary Jane Johnson

Mary Jane Crandall Johnson passed away peacefully the morning of August 14, 2025, surrounded by her family after a two-and one-half-year battle with pancreatic cancer. Mary Jane was born June 20th, 1945, in Twin Falls, Idaho, as the 9 th of 10 children of Martin Oscar and her angel mother Ella Sims Crandall. Mary Jane often spoke of her wonderful childhood, having a strong connection with her siblings and the gratitude she had for her parents and upbringing, including the friendships she had throughout her life with her Twin Falls friends.

After graduating from Twin Falls High School in 1963, Mary Jane attended Bringham Young University, graduating in elementary education in 1967. Mary Jane was introduced to her husband, James “Jim” Johnson via his coworkers, which were her roommates in Salt Lake City. After dating for what she called an “eternity”, they were married in the Salt Lake Temple on March 20 th , 1970. Jim and Mary Jane soon after moved to Twin Falls, Idaho, where her eldest daughter, Brandee was born, but the call of returning to Utah was too great. Her parents had moved to Salt Lake and Jim and Mary Jane decided to follow them. They moved into their current house in Draper, Utah in 1974, 4 days after giving birth to her second daughter, Jaimee. She was able to work her favorite job as a stay-at-home mom for her two wonderful little girls until Jaimee started elementary school.

Mary Jane returned to work in 1979 and enjoyed completing a 31-year career in education, with 30 of those years at Cottonwood Heights Elementary. Mary Jane created lasting relationships with both fellow teachers and students, becoming a generational teacher, and in some cases, teaching the children of her previous students. She finally retired in 2005. She kept in touch with many wonderful coworkers until her death.

Mary Jane remained close to each of her siblings, being an involved and caring aunt to dozens of nieces and nephews. Mary Jane’s family was her joy, her daughters, and later her 4 grandchildren, being her focus throughout her adult life.

According to Mary Jane’s daughters, her hobbies were spending much of her time in maintaining relationships with friends and family. She also loved reading, sharing her love of books with her friends, family and book clubs. On June 20 th of this year, she celebrated her 80 th birthday. Mary Jane had an all-day birthday party, where over 100 guests from all times in her life came to celebrate her. It was amazing not only to see the number of loved ones come to the party, but that Mary Jane had maintained those relationships and loved those people throughout her life.

Mary Jane was a faithful member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, where she fulfilled many callings in Relief Society, Young Women’s and Primary where she ministered and served her neighbors and community. She was outspoken in her beliefs and the value the Gospel of Jesus Christ brought to her life and the people she served. Mary Jane was well known in her neighborhood due to her service to others, forming relationships that lasted throughout her life. Mary Jane was a valued member of the Daughters of the Utah Pioneers, supporting the organization, giving of her time there and valuing her family’s heritage.

Mary Jane’s grandchildren were her obsession. She was “that grandma”, who loved to spoil her grandchildren. Mary Jane spent as much time at little league, school performances, and activities as she was able to do. Mary Jane was famously known for turning a trip to the grocery store into a daylong commitment. Sitting at home was her kryptonite. Nothing pleased her more than planning and going on as many vacations as possible. While battling cancer, she still managed to plan and go on several, including a Caribbean cruise, Disneyworld, 4 days at Disneyland with Jaimee, Hawaii, San Francisco, and as many other “small” trips as possible.

Due to her commitment to people, Mary Jane will be missed by many, leaving behind a community of people that she helped, nurtured, loved and encouraged.

She is survived by her husband of 55 years Jim, daughter Brandee (Mike), daughter Jaimee, grandchildren; Karson, Cameron, Kenadee and Colter. Brother Ted Crandall and his wife Janice, Sister-in-law Linda Crandall, numerous cousins, nieces, nephews, and friends.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Martie and Ella Crandall, siblings: Bob (Shirlene) Crandall, Lentz (Lila) Crandall, Maureen (Roy) Mallory, Geri (Henry) Goldsmith, LaWana (Clark) Whitehead, Richard (Marilee) Crandall, Ellis Crandall, and Elwin Crandall. What a wonderful reunion she is having with them!

A viewing will be held Friday, August 22 from 6-8 pm at the LDS Chapel 600 East 12300 South, Draper, Utah. A funeral will be held Saturday, August 23 at 11:00 am at the same chapel. There will also be a viewing from 10:00-10:30 that morning. Interment at Larkin Sunset Gardens in Sandy, UT, amongst family and loved ones.

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