Johnnie Pearl Pehrson

Our Beloved wife, mother, and grandmother, Johnnie Pearl Butler Pehrson slipped these earthly bonds and returned home to heaven Thursday evening April 28, 2011. Her loving family surrounded her as she took her last breath, gave a little smile and gently slipped away. She was 82. Mom was born on May 13, 1928, in Houston County, Alabama to Herman and Mary Jewell Butler. Her parents were cotton and peanut sharecroppers. She was raised on the farm and graduated with 7 classmates in 1945. She went on to Southern Business University in Atlanta Georgia where she graduated in 1947. She then went to work for Hartford Insurance. She transferred with Hartford Insurance to San Francisco to be with her big sister Mabel and that's where she met her one true love, Bob Pehrson, the handsome sailor who was serving in the Navy with Johnnie's brother Hank on the USS Cape Esperance. As Bob finished his service love blossomed and Mom's adventurous nature found her visiting Idaho to meet the Pehrsons where she fell in love again with the Idaho mountains and rugged western way of life. Bob and Johnnie were married on August 30 1952 in Idaho Falls by a Baptist Minister. Together they had 5 children: Joe, Jan, Julie, Jim and Jill, together they were "Bob and the 6 J's" Johnnie continued working for a local Hartford agent in Pocatello then later worked for Satterfield Insurance as office manager for 30 years before retiring in 1993. Mom was active in bowling and love square dancing, hunting, fishing and camping in her beloved Idaho Outdoors. She also liked mini bike motorcycling in the backcountry and loved talking on the CB radio. There was another man in Mom's life who she loved second only to Bob and that was George Straight and his music. Mom was a huge country music fan. One of our family's favorite memories was Mom piling all nine of her Western family members in the station wagon and driving across the country to visit the Butlers in the South. These were grand adventures and she was committed to making sure her western family knew and understood their southern roots. Mom was a pioneer of the full time working Mom balancing her professional life and cherished family life with dignity, professionalism, grace and love. All were welcomed in Pearly's Home and many people shared her hospitality, called her Mom or Mimi and became part of her huge extended family. Mom is survived by her husband Robert L. (Bob) Pehrson; son Joe (Kris) Pehrson of Idaho Falls: daughter Jan (Byron Roan) Matkin ; daughter Julie (Everett) Frasure; son Jim (Jamie) Pehrson all of Pocatello, and Jill Pehrson of Burley; grandchildren , Abby, Bobby, Loren, Bobbi Jo, Kelsy, Erin, Katie, Jason, Jonny, Tyler, Ashley, Scott, and Dano; and 14 great grandchildren. She is proceeded in death by her parents. Funeral services will be held at 11:00 AM, Wednesday, May 4 th at Colonial Funeral Home, 2005 S. 4 th Ave. Pocatello, Idaho. A viewing will be held from 6 - 8 PM Tuesday, May 3, 2011 and one hour prior to the services at Colonial on Wednesday. Rev. Jim Jones will be conducting the services. Condolences may be made online to the family at www.colonialfuneralhome.com