Cornelia “Corky” Anderson Johnson, born Feb. 15, 1924, passed away peacefully on June 23, 2010, at the marvelous Hospice House facility in Kelowna, B.C. She and her younger brother Bob were born to John and ElIzabeth Anderson in Healdsburg, Calif., and raised on an orchard beside Dry Creek.

While attending Healds-burg High she worked on the “ranch,” had numerous prune fights with her brother, ate tons of homemade applesauce, drove the hop truck for a neighboring farmer and loved to raft and canoe down the Russian River.

Corky received an Education Degree from U.C. Berkeley, taught art at Santa Rosa Jr. College and then Bakersfield High where she met a talented geologist, Rolfe Johnson, and married shortly thereafter at the Stanford University Chapel.

Together, they moved to the San Fernando Valley, built their first house in Grenada Hills and had Barry. Moving with the oil company, they had Dana in Santa Maria and Shirley in Fort St. John, B.C.,; they settled in Calgary in 1955 to raise their family.

Corky was very social, enjoyed hosting dinner parties and was often recognized as “the life of the party.” She was devoted to her children and created a great home for the family. Above all she looked for the best in people and never uttered a negative word about anyone. She enjoyed painting and won several awards for her watercolors. She particularly loved painting pictures of old barns and hay stooks in the countryside around Calgary. One time she asked a farmer if it would be all right for her to paint his barn. He seriously answered that he didn’t think it needed it at the time.

Corky tried skiing when it was not yet popular. She loved it and introduced her family to an enduring passion. Summers were spent at the Shuswap Lake cabin where she enjoyed her children and painted many beautiful pictures of the landscape.

After the kids left home Rolfe and Corky moved from Calgary to Oak Harbor to be by her bother Bob and allow Rolfe to pursue his passion for sailing. Here she painted many beautiful West Coast watercolors.

In 1995, they moved to Kelowna to be with their children and grandchildren. Rolfe passed in June 2009 and Corky moved into Mission Villas where, in her words, she “blossomed,” met new friends and really enjoyed the last year of her life.

Corky was a fun, warm and loving person who will be sorely missed. A private service will be held for the family and close friends.

Corky is survived by her brother Robert (Carol); three children, Barry Johnson (Carol), Dana Johnson (Cannen Langstaft), and Shirley Fritsch (Linden); grandchildren Kevin Johnson (Amanda Nichols), Curtis Johnson Morrison (Carmen), Cody Fritsch, Tyler Fritsch, and Amy Johnson; and great-granddaughter Oceana who gave Corky her last big smile.