Marion Deloris DuBoise Johnson: Oct. 1934 -July 2014

Marion Deloris (DuBoise) Johnson, daughter of the late Lincoln (Tom) and Beulah India DuBoise was born on October 10, 1934 in Shreveport, Louisiana. She left this world July 26, 2014.

She was the youngest of 10 children, but you would hardly know it.  She was a born leader who wouldn't let up until she accomplished everything she set her sights on. Many of us were called upon to help her, generally before you really knew what was happening, but it was worth it to see her beam with pride when a project she set out to do was completed.

Deloris followed her brothers Clyde and Anderson Daniel (AD) and her sister Marguerite to Portland where she met her future husband, William Johnson. They raised four children, Robiere, Daren, Michael and Eric.

Deloris worked in a cannery and then at Multnomah County Hospital. She decided a different path was in order and worked as a teacher's aide at Humboldt Elementary School while working towards her teaching degree.

She graduated from Oregon State University in 1975 with a Bachelor's of Science Degree in Elementary Education, and from the University of Portland in 1979, with a Master's Degree in Education. She began teaching in 1980 at Martin Luther King Jr. Elementary in the Vancouver School District.

She took a hiatus in 1995 due to a debilitating stroke where she lost her ability to speak.  She persevered; rehabilitating her speech and physical condition for seven years and eventually was able to resume her teaching career and retired from MLK Elementary in 2005.

Deloris was very active in her community, at Bethel AME Church, and at Martin Luther King Jr. Elementary School. She was often seen making bulletin boards for special events at church and setting up displays at school. She tried to teach diversity to her students by having special guests such as the Buffalo Soldiers join them.

She was an active member of the Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, was a former member of the Links, Inc. and was excited to be involved with the YWCA and the great work they do.

She was extremely proud of her family and would carry a photo album with her so she could show people pictures as she told stories about her family's successes.

Deloris was preceded in death by her husband, William, and siblings: Eunice Du­ Boise, Gladys Mae DuBoise, Anderson Daniel DuBoise Sr., Marguerite Du­ Boise Dials, Thomas James DuBoise, Mildred Louise Nash and Clyde Alfreado DuBoise Sr. Deloris is survived by two sisters: Doris Marie DuBoise,and Katie Gloria Wright; four sons: Robiere Lamont Johnson (Janiece), Daren Alexandre Johnson (Marguerite), Michael Rennie Johnson and Eric Benjamin Johnson; 13 grandchildren; 11 great grandchildren; and a host of nieces and nephews, other family members and friends.