Athilla Mary McCune Johann (known to all as Mickey) passed away this Sunday, Nov. 20, 2016 at 11:45 p.m. at the Ridge Rest Assisted Living Center in Columbus, N.C.

Born in Dubuque, Iowa on Nov. 30, 1920 to Leo McCune and Othilia Schenker, she and her four siblings (Don, Lee, Merlin and Muriel) soon moved to Chicago. In 1931, her mother passed away during childbirth. Mickey was only 10 years old. Her childhood instilled in her a deep sense of family bonds.

At the age of 19 she was waitressing and helping support her family when Mickey met John Johann. They were married a year later, in 1941, and moved to Madison, Wisc. Two children followed: John Lee Johann and Dallas Don Johann. Her boys became the center of Mickey’s life. Nothing was ever more important.

Mickey and John eventually moved their family to Los Angeles, where she worked for a time as the Executive Secretary to the CEO of Bray Oil. In her personal life, she loved the theater and took part in community productions. She instilled a love of the arts in her sons (performing, designing costumes and supporting their dreams to become entertainers). She played golf, bowled, was an avid reader and a fan of crosswords.

In her later years, Mickey took tremendous pride in her family. She was not only a passionate parent but an adoring grandparent and eventually a remarkably energetic and loving great-grandparent.

After the passing of her husband in 2002, Mickey’s resolve and feisty spirit kept her going. She moved to Columbus, N.C. in 2006 and took up residence at Laurel Hurst Retirement Community. In 2009 she moved to upstate New York where she spent six years. Recently, she returned to Columbus to be near her two sons again.

Athilla Mary Johann is survived by her two sons: John Lee Johann (and wife Susan Currier) of Tryon, N.C. and Dallas Don Johann (and wife Susan Walther) of Columbus, N.C., as well as her four grandchildren: John Andrew Johann of Pennington, N.J., Cameron Johann (wife Jennifer Johann) of Agoura Hills, Calif., Wendolyn Fleming Marmon (husband Jon Marmon) of Pine Bush, N.Y., Trevor Johann (wife Jessica Johann) of Sherman Oaks, Calif., and seven great grandchildren: Reef Marmon, Riley Marmon, John Walter Johann, Jasmine Johann, Leighton Johann, Emory Johann and Scarlett Johann.

“Redheads are descended from cats.” – so said Mark Twain. Mr. Twain clearly never met a beautiful redhead named Mickey Johann. No one disliked cats more. Alternately, no one loved chocolate more. Without Mickey the world of chocolatiers may be in trouble.

Her loving nature and tremendous sense of humor will never be forgotten.

An online guest register is available at www.mcfarlandfuneralchapel.com.

McFarland Funeral Chapel
Tryon, N.C.