Nella Ree (Johnson) Neiswender Obituary

[Yakima Herald, Yakima, WA, Dec 18, 2016]

Nella Johnson Neiswender

Nella Ree Johnson Neiswender, 98, passed away of natural causes in Yakima, Washington on December 15, 2016.

Nella was born March 15, 1918 at her family home in Rogersville, Alabama. The second of 13 children of Connie James Johnson and Nora Springer Johnson. Nella graduated from Lauderdale County High School in 1938. Growing up she attended Hurricane Cumberland Presbyterian Church where at the age of 17 she gave her heart to her Lord and Savior.

Nella married Glenn Neiswender in July, 1943. They moved to Spokane, Washington where she raised her two sons, Kenneth Ladd Neiswender and Gary Gene Neiswender. After Glenn passed away in 1961, Nella went to work as a housekeeper at Deaconess Hospital. She retired in 1980, as she wanted to spend more time with her two grandchildren, Mark and Karen.

Nella loved sewing, reading her Bible (she read through the Bible at least 4 times), baking, gardening and cheering on the University of Alabama football team-Roll Tide! She cherished her visits back to Alabama for family reunions and was known for her potholders and riddles. She was a long-time member of Fourth Memorial Church in Spokane, WA. In 2005, Nella moved to Yakima to be closer to her son and resided in the Ponderosa Assisted Living.

Nella was preceded in death by her parents, her husband; her son, Gary; her brothers: Reeder, James (JC), Luther (Bug), Talbert, Sonny and sisters, Hildred and Robbie. Survivors include her son, Ken (Carolyn) of Selah, WA; grandchildren, Mark (Stacey) Wasilla, AK and Karen (Rodolfo) Calani and great-grandchildren, Robert and Riley Joy of Guatemala, sister, June Johnson Glaser of Nashville, TN, brothers, Dennie Johnson (Sammie) of Flowery Branch, GA and Bobby Johnson (Hazel) of Decatur, AL; sister-in-law, Margaret Johnson of Marietta, GA and brother-in-law, Alton Ledlow of Killen, AL; also, many beloved nieces and nephews.

Private Burial and inurnment service will be held in Spokane, WA later in the Spring of 2017 in Greenwood Memorial Terrace. Memorials may be made to Fourth Memorial Camping Program, 2000 N. Standard St., Spokane, WA 99207. Much thanks to Memorial Hospice and the Ponderosa caregivers for their love and attention to Nella.