Cheryl Lea Johnson

Cheryl Lea Johnson, loving mother and passionate friend and collegue, passed away October 28, 2007 after suffering a ruptured brain aneurysm. Cheryl was born on March 28, 1950 to Fred and Josephine (Horvath) Crocker in Dearborn, Michigan. She was raised with her brothers Bill and Russ amid a myriad of pets in New Boston, Michigan where she graduated from high school in 1968. Successful in both academics and extracurricular activities, she received a full scholarship to the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor where she earned her Bachelor's of Science in Nursing in 1972. Cheryl immediately began her nursing career working as a registered nurse in critical care at the University of Michigan Hospital where she continued to care for patients for 35+ years. Cheryl was a passionate, vocal, and intense advocate for both the care of her critically ill patients and her profession. Cheryl loved nursing. She loved the work that she did. She believed that it was her duty as a nurse to stand up and speak out on issues such as mandatory overtime, and unsafe levels of hospital staffing. Beginning with the UMPNC (University of Michigan Professional Nurse Council), Cheryl later became a nurse leader at the national and state levels. She was recently elected to her third term as president of the Michigan Nurses Association, and was inducted to the Michigan Nurses Hall of Fame in 2006. Cheryl was instrumental in the creation of the United American Nurses, the union affiliate of the American Nurses Association. She was elected to the UAN's first president and chair of UAN in 1999 and was serving her second term as UAN president. She is one of a few women on the AFL-CIO Executive Council and was identified as one of the "100 Most Powerful People in Health Care," by Modern Healthcare. She was also named vice president for the Coalition of Labor Union Women in 2005. Aside from her busy professional career, Cheryl enjoyed spending time with her family and her many friends. She and her daughter Nikki were exceptionally close. She enjoyed playing pool and traveling with her fiancAC. Mitch, and was thrilled about being a part of his large family. Jack, her three-year-old grandson, was the apple of her eye, and she enjoyed playing trains with him on the living room floor. Cheryl was an ardent animal-lover and had many pets, including cats and several birds. She was a knitter, tap-dancer, and locally-famous joke-teller. Cheryl is survived by her immediate family: her parents, two brothers, daughter, son-in-law, grandson, and nieces and nephew. She is also survived by her fiancAC., his three children, and their families. Her many friends and colleagues will miss her humor, sharp wit, and passion for life. A Memorial Service will be held on Monday, November 12, 2007 from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m. in the Ford Amphitheatre at the University of Michigan Hospital in Ann Arbor. Memorial contributions may be made out to the Cheryl Johnson RN Memorial Fund, and sent in care of: Capitol National Bank, 4792 Marsh Road Okemos, MI 48864. Please call Dickson Manns, (Manager, Manns-Ferguson Funeral Home) 734-425-1800 with any questions.