Kathryn L. Johnston

Kathryn “Kay” Louise Lavery Johnston, age 71, of Beaver, passed away unexpectedly on Friday, December 18, 2020.

Kay graduated from Sharon High School in Sharon, PA and earned her nursing degree from Washington Hospital School of Nursing. She worked for 40+ years as a Labor & Delivery Nurse and the Maternal and Child Health Supervisor at Heritage Valley, Beaver, PA for the most recent years before her retirement.

Kay will be remembered as a warm and loving friend and family member. She will be memorialized as the ultimate wife, mother, sister, daughter, friend, neighbor, and co-worker. Kay believed in leading by example and never hesitated to offer sound advice to friends and family. She was a poised and beautiful little lady with a giant heart and a laugh that could brighten anyone’s day. To her grandchildren, Mimi was magical. She was full of surprises and loved to research and gift the newest and greatest toy or gadget. To her 3 daughters, she will be greatly missed as she was the glue that united the family, making everyone feel as if they were “her favorite”. Kay loved to share stories of cherished past times. She had a knack for story-telling and often left her listening audience laughing. She enjoyed her retired years traveling with her best friends “The Travelers” and loved nothing more than to spend time with her loving family.

She was preceded in death by her adoring husband of 43 years, Robert James, and her parents Richard & Gladys Lavery.

Kay is survived by her loving daughters, Amy (Joe Noah Jr.) Hartle of Beaver, PA, Katie (Michael) Bayer of Hermitage, PA and Carrie (Jeff) Ondrusek also of Beaver, PA. Her 8 grandchildren: Hayley and Hannah Hartle, Emily, Trey and Jaxon Bayer, and Reese, Carson and Ellie Ondrusek, her brother John (Theresa) Lavery of Mission Viejo, CA, her sisters-in-law, Carol Hartley of Mercer, PA and Shirley (Jim) Daugherty of Fort Wayne, IN and many nieces and nephews.

Friends and family will be received on Wednesday, December 23, 2020 from 2 p.m. until 4 p.m. and 6 p.m. until 8 p.m. in the Noll Funeral Home, Inc., 333 Third St., Beaver, PA 15009. In light of COVID restrictions, the family understands completely if you are uncomfortable or unable to visit during viewing hours.

The family has established the Kay Johnston Memorial Scholarship Award through the Beaver Area School District Association. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that you consider a donation to this scholarship. Checks can be sent to the Beaver Area School District Foundation, 1300 Fifth St., Beaver, PA 15009. Please include “Kay Johnston Memorial Scholarship Fund” in the memo line of your check.