Zella Johnson was born on 10. May. 1919 at Baileyville, Nemaha County, Kansas. She married
Frank LeRoy Percival, son of
Earl Leslie Percival and
Mary Gertrude deWeber, on 27. Sep. 1936 at Pawnee City, Pawnee County, Nebraska. Zella Johnson died on 24. May. 2004 at Montrose Memorial Hospital, Montrose, Montrose County, Colorado, at age 85.
Zella Percival
OLATHE - Zella Percival, of Olathe, died Friday morning, May 28, 2004, at the Montrose Memorial Hospital in Montrose, 18 days after her 85th birthday.
Zella Johnson was born in Baileyville, Kan., on May 10, 1919, the daughter of Thomas Wesley and Grace Mabel (Hall) Johnson. Zella was a young girl when she moved with her family to Northeastern Colorado where she attended school. Due to her mother's crippling arthritis, Zella ceased her education at the age of 14 and began caring for her infant sister.
She then moved to Nebraska where she was united in marriage with Frank Leroy Percival on Sept. 27, 1936, in Pawnee City, Neb. In 1939 they moved to Olathe, Colo., and in 1942 moved back to Nebraska. In 1944 the Percivals once again moved back to Olathe where they lived until 1975 when they moved to Pueblo where the family raised rabbits. In 1977 the family left Pueblo and eventually moved back to Olathe where Zella remained until the time of her death.
After sharing nearly 55 years of marriage, Frank preceded Zella in death on Aug. 3, 1991, in Halstead, Kan.
In 1983 the Percival family opened the B & P Worm Farm in Olathe. Zella operated the worm farm until 2001.
She was very active in church, was a relief society member and a visiting teacher's coordinator. Zella taught Sunday school to all ages, worked in the nursery and was also a ward missionary.
Zella treasured her family and especially adored her grandchildren. She loved family gatherings, was a wonderful cook and was gifted in making Christmas candies. She loved gardening, flowers and arts and crafts. She was a very talented quilter and made several quilts for her family. Zella was a wonderful mom and will be lovingly remembered for her kindness and patience.
Surviving family members who were blessed to share in Zella's life include one daughter, Joanne and husband Charles Gale, of Pueblo, Colo; three sons: Leroy "Bud" Percival, of Pueblo, Colo; Keith Percival, of Las Animas, Colo; Joe Percival and wife Debbie, of Olathe, Colo; a daughter-in-law, Pat Percival, of Olathe, Colo; 14 wonderful grandchildren; 27 great-grandchildren and seven great-great-grandchildren.
Other family survivors include two brothers: Clifford Johnson, of Pawnee City, Neb; Dorvan Johnson and wife Sandy, of Ogallala, Neb; five sisters: Twila Rettele, of Tecumseh, Neb; Evelyn Brown, of Lincoln, Neb; Loretta and husband Orland Holten, of Jacksonville, Fla; Mary McKinney, of Auburn, Neb; Velma and husband Harry Meyers, of Bountiful, Utah; one brother-in-law, Rolland Percival, of Olathe, Colo; two sisters-in-law: Ruth Percival and Helen Percival, both of Olathe, Colo; as well as many nieces, nephews and cousins, including a special cousin, Galen Thomason, of Longmont, Colo.
In addition to her parents and her husband, Frank, Zella was also preceded in death by one son, Robert Percival; and two sisters: Leona Lynn and Hazel Christie.
Visitation for family and friends is scheduled for Thursday, June 3, from 2 to 6 p.m. at the Montrose Valley Funeral Home Chapel.
A funeral service in honor of Zella's life will be officiated on Friday, June 4, at 10 a.m. at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Delta. Following interment in the Olathe Cemetery, a dinner for the family will be served at the church.
Memorial contributions may be made to: Colorow Care Center, In Memory of Zella Percival, P.O. Box 710, Olathe, CO 81425.
Arrangements are being handled under the direction of the Montrose Valley Funeral Home, (970) 249-4400.