Katrina Lee Johnson

Katrina Lee Johnson, 51, went to be with the Lord on Monday, Aug. 4, 2014, in Butler, Mo., at Willow Lane Home Care Center. Her parents were Gordon Stephen Buttorff Jr. and Wanda June Buttorff (Pettigrew).

She was born in Louisville, Ky., on Sept. 28, 1962, and lived there until age 1, when she with her family moved to Indiana and finally settled in the Dallas/Fort Worth area in Texas. Katrina attended Brook Hollow Christian School along with her siblings until her junior year. She moved out and then graduated at Duncanville High. Katrina was industrious and began working while finishing high school. She finally handed in the helicopter industry where she continued for the next 20 years. Her longtime friends and former bosses Jamey and Mary Rhodes always kept in close contact.

Katrina was baptized by her father, Gordon Stephen Buttorff Jr. at Lake Travis, in Texas, at age 14. Her hobbies included traveling, planning family vacations, and watching movies; but her favorite pastime was spending time with her many nieces and nephews. Katrina embraced life and never backed down from any challenges she faced. While still single, she took nephews, Stephen Jr. and Matthew to Spain and Morocco when they were only 12 and 11 years old repectively. She was always considering others above herself.

Katrina married later in life than most, at age 41 in August 2004. Her husband, Christian Johnson, brought life and humor to both Katrina and her family. They celebrate 10 years of marriage this August. They have travelled, endured, explored, laughed, and cried together. God could not have give Kat a better mate.

One predominant memory of Katrina Lee was when she decided to go skydiving. We all thought it was a crazy idea. She had a video taken and she told later that she smiled for the camera because she was never doing that again.

Aside from her husband, Christian Stephan Johnson, survivors include her mother, Wanda June Buttorff (Pettigrew); siblings, Gordon Stephen Buttorff III, Heather Lynn Brown and her husband, Dallas, Christopher Granger Buttorff, Nathaniel David Buttorff and his wife, Dana, Adam Stuart Buttorff and his wife, Dawn, and Christanne Colleen Gayman and her husband, Dennis. She is preceded in death by her grandfather, Dr. Gordon Stephen Buttorff on May 16, 1951; her grandmother, Sara Ruddell Buttorff on Jan. 3, 1986; her father, Gordon Stephen Buttorff Jr. on July 11, 1985; and her little niece, Victoria Anne Faith Middleton on May 17, 2004.

Of special mention were her longtime dear friends, Alacia Lane, Martha Jones, and Sandra Middleton (special thanks). They have passionately loved her and will feel the loss with the rest of the family.

To know Katrina was to love her. She was a strong Christian, a loving sister, a doting wife, an amazing aunt, a great daughter, and a very loyal friend. She will be severely missed by all who had the privilege of her acquaintance.

Graveside services are scheduled for 10 a.m., Thursday, Aug. 7, at the Green Lawn Cemetery, in Schell City, Mo. Visitation will be held from 6 to 8 p.m., Wednesday, Aug. 6, at the Lewis-Hoagland Funeral Home, in Schell City. Memorials are suggested to Vernon County Relay For Life in care of the funeral home. Frienda may call at the funeral home after 1 p.m., Wednesday.