Nellie was born on Jan. 21, 1936, to Arthur and Anna (Crouch) Watts in Neal. She married Kenneth Dale Johnson on Feb. 27, 1953, in El Dorado. They started their home in an old white farmhouse west of Augusta. Later, they moved to a chicken house made into apartments. Nellie and husband Kenneth had lived in many places: Alaska, Kansas and California. They settled down in Severy. To this marriage 8 children were born.

She had many jobs as a homemaker, farmers wife, bookkeeper for her husband businesses, cleaning military housing and Howard Twilight Manor Nursing Home in the Laundry and Cleaning. She belongs to the First Baptist Church in Howard.

She is preceded in death by her husband, Kenneth Johnson; son-in-law, Mike Shepherd; granddaughter, Joy Johnson and step-grandson, Zachary Beshirs, siblings: brothers, Bert Watts, Walter Watts, Kenny Watts, John Watts and Arthur Ray Watts; and sisters, Faye Johnson, Adeline Hobbs, Alma Lee Schlotterbeck and Dolly Ashlock.

Nellie is survived by her children Delane Johnson of the home, Dale (Wayne) McDaniel of Willow Springs, Mo.; Doyle (Delores) Johnson of Severy; Lynn (Christy) Johnson of Severy; Becky Shepherd of Eureka; Doreen (George) Rogers of Stinnett, Texas; Kendall (Melissa) Johnson of Howard; Debra (Scott) Greer of Elk City; 25 grandchildren and four step-grandchildren; 46 great-grandchildren, four step-great-grandchildren and one on the way; four great-great grandchildren, two step great-great grandchildren and one great-great grandchild on the way; three sisters, Sharon Hellman, JoAnn Ashlock and Anna Mae Hare.

The family will receive friends at visitation from 4 to 6 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 2, 2024 at Countryside Funeral Home in Howard.

Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. on Saturday, Feb. 3, at Countryside Funeral Home in Howard, with interment to follow in Cresco Cemetery.

Memorial contributions are suggested to the American Diabetes Association or the American Heart Association and can be mailed to or left with the funeral home.

Services entrusted to Countryside Funeral Home, 206 E. Washington, PO Box 1233, Howard, KS 67349