Services have been scheduled for Agnes Florence (Gamble) Johnson, who had the honor of being the Naa Tlaa, or clan mother, of the Sitka Kaagwaantaan.
A cultural memorial for Kawteen will be at the ANB Founders Hall 5:30 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 21, and a memorial service at St. Michael’s Cathedral will be 5:30 p.m. Thursday. The funeral service will be 10 a.m. Friday at St. Michael’s, with burial at Sitka National Cemetery, in the plot next to her husband’s.
Agnes was born Aug. 21, 1929, in Angoon, the daughter of Florence (Peters) and George Gamble. She went to school in Juneau, and when Mt. Edgecumbe High School opened, she was on the first girls basketball team, known as the Giants. While in Sitka she met and married Joseph Johnson, and they lived in Juneau for several years before returning to Sitka in the early 1960s.
In her earlier years she worked three summers at Excursion Inlet, and in Juneau held various jobs including as a housekeeper at Baranof Hotel.
She earned her GED and attended secretarial school in Juneau. After returning to Sitka she was a medical secretary at SEARHC-Mt. Edgecumbe Hospital. She retired in 1985.
Agnes really loved and enjoyed her family, and prayed for her family on a daily basis.
She was very active in her church, where she was past president of St. Michael’s Sisterhood, and a member of the parish council.
She liked going to karaoke, watching softball games and cooking – she would make large pots of clam chowder for various fundraisers.
She was a member of Shee Atika Incorporated, Sealaska Corporation, and Sitka Tribe of Alaska.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Joseph Johnson; daughters Georgiana Chercasen, Cindy Johnson, Virginia Sam and Audrey Johnson; brothers Ronald Gamble, Leonard Gamble and Art Gamble; and grandchildren Wilber Johnson, Blake Johnson, Chuckie Johnson and Rachel Johnson.
Survivors include her daughters, Cheryl Duncan and Josephine Johnson, both of Sitka; sons Joseph Johnson Jr. of Juneau, Mike Johnson of Seattle and Everett Johnson, Norman Johnson, Henry Johnson and Jacob Johnson, all of Sitka.
Also surviving are 50 grandchildren, 52 great-grandchildren, two great-great-grandchildren, and numerous nephews and nieces.
Pallbearers will be Tom Gamble, Brian James, Dwight Payton, Thomas Young Jr., Kenneth Johnson, Henry Johnson Jr. and Terry Pegues.
Honorary pallbearers are David Kanosh, Herman Davis, Bob Allen, John Duncan Sr., Harry Sam Jr., Jeff Wright, Anita Wright, Selena Everson, Ethel Makinen, Charlotte Nielsen, George Bennett and Elouise Kanosh.
Those wishing to make a memorial contribution may contact Cheryl Duncan, 137 Wolff Dr., Sitka, phone 747-6737.
