Born at her parents' farmhouse on Lone Elm Farm, five miles south of Olathe, Kansas. (Today, the replacement farmhouse built by her father in 1904 on the farm still stands just west of the intersection of West 167th St & South Lone Elm Road, Olathe, Johnson County, Kansas 66062.)
She and her younger sister, Mildred, attended a one-room schoolhouse near her home for their elementary schooling, and moved to Olathe to attend high school, returning home to the farm only on weekends.
Edith Loree Kelly was of a determined and independent character and continued her education as a student in the architectural program at Kansas State Agricultural College, Manhattan, Kansas (now Kansas State University), 1915-1919. She was the first female architecture student enrolled there. However, it was her choice to leave school without a diploma after marrying fellow student Myron Johnson at the age of 25. She had four children and retained a lifelong interest in architecture, decor, and design. She also enjoyed sewing most of her own and her children's clothes.
As a young girl around age 12 she injured her leg (while jumping over a metal-topped fence, it was said), and it never really healed. In October 1934 she had to have the leg amputated and thereafter used a wooden leg. The amusing family story is told that while she was recovering from surgery in bed, and trying to maintain order over her two unruly sons in the house, she coaxed them close to her bedside so she could then wallop them with her cane.
Edith died at the age of 69 at Ohio State University Medical Center, cause of death: leukemia/lymphosarcoma. Her funeral was held on 26 August 1961. Her cremated remains were buried 30 October 1963 with a service at the cemetery at 11:00 a.m.
She and her younger sister, Mildred, attended a one-room schoolhouse near her home for their elementary schooling, and moved to Olathe to attend high school, returning home to the farm only on weekends.
Edith Loree Kelly was of a determined and independent character and continued her education as a student in the architectural program at Kansas State Agricultural College, Manhattan, Kansas (now Kansas State University), 1915-1919. She was the first female architecture student enrolled there. However, it was her choice to leave school without a diploma after marrying fellow student Myron Johnson at the age of 25. She had four children and retained a lifelong interest in architecture, decor, and design. She also enjoyed sewing most of her own and her children's clothes.
As a young girl around age 12 she injured her leg (while jumping over a metal-topped fence, it was said), and it never really healed. In October 1934 she had to have the leg amputated and thereafter used a wooden leg. The amusing family story is told that while she was recovering from surgery in bed, and trying to maintain order over her two unruly sons in the house, she coaxed them close to her bedside so she could then wallop them with her cane.
Edith died at the age of 69 at Ohio State University Medical Center, cause of death: leukemia/lymphosarcoma. Her funeral was held on 26 August 1961. Her cremated remains were buried 30 October 1963 with a service at the cemetery at 11:00 a.m.
Born at her parents' farmhouse on Lone Elm Farm, five miles south of Olathe, Kansas. (Today, the replacement farmhouse built by her father in 1904 on the farm still stands just west of the intersection of West 167th St & South Lone Elm Road, Olathe, Johnson County, Kansas 66062.)
She and her younger sister, Mildred, attended a one-room schoolhouse near her home for their elementary schooling, and moved to Olathe to attend high school, returning home to the farm only on weekends.
Edith Loree Kelly was of a determined and independent character and continued her education as a student in the architectural program at Kansas State Agricultural College, Manhattan, Kansas (now Kansas State University), 1915-1919. She was the first female architecture student enrolled there. However, it was her choice to leave school without a diploma after marrying fellow student Myron Johnson at the age of 25. She had four children and retained a lifelong interest in architecture, decor, and design. She also enjoyed sewing most of her own and her children's clothes.
As a young girl around age 12 she injured her leg (while jumping over a metal-topped fence, it was said), and it never really healed. In October 1934 she had to have the leg amputated and thereafter used a wooden leg. The amusing family story is told that while she was recovering from surgery in bed, and trying to maintain order over her two unruly sons in the house, she coaxed them close to her bedside so she could then wallop them with her cane.
Edith died at the age of 69 at Ohio State University Medical Center, cause of death: leukemia/lymphosarcoma. Her funeral was held on 26 August 1961. Her cremated remains were buried 30 October 1963 with a service at the cemetery at 11:00 a.m.
She and her younger sister, Mildred, attended a one-room schoolhouse near her home for their elementary schooling, and moved to Olathe to attend high school, returning home to the farm only on weekends.
Edith Loree Kelly was of a determined and independent character and continued her education as a student in the architectural program at Kansas State Agricultural College, Manhattan, Kansas (now Kansas State University), 1915-1919. She was the first female architecture student enrolled there. However, it was her choice to leave school without a diploma after marrying fellow student Myron Johnson at the age of 25. She had four children and retained a lifelong interest in architecture, decor, and design. She also enjoyed sewing most of her own and her children's clothes.
As a young girl around age 12 she injured her leg (while jumping over a metal-topped fence, it was said), and it never really healed. In October 1934 she had to have the leg amputated and thereafter used a wooden leg. The amusing family story is told that while she was recovering from surgery in bed, and trying to maintain order over her two unruly sons in the house, she coaxed them close to her bedside so she could then wallop them with her cane.
Edith died at the age of 69 at Ohio State University Medical Center, cause of death: leukemia/lymphosarcoma. Her funeral was held on 26 August 1961. Her cremated remains were buried 30 October 1963 with a service at the cemetery at 11:00 a.m.
Inscription
JOHNSON
Edith K.
1892-1961
Myron E.
1892-1968
