Shelly Ann Johnson

Shelly Ann (Savage) Johnson, formerly of Arcadia, Missouri, passed away on May 19, 2026, in St. Louis, Missouri, at the age of 62. She was born on January 3, 1964, in Ironton, Missouri, the daughter of the late Mabel (Brawley) Savage and Carl Savage. Shelly grew up in Hogan, Missouri, as the youngest of twelve children and “the baby” of the Savage family. Family remained one of the defining forces in her life and helped shape the strong, loyal, and deeply loving woman she became. Coming from such a large family, Shelly formed many unbreakable bonds and cherished the countless family memories made throughout the years. Shelly attended South Iron School until her junior year before transferring to Arcadia Valley, where she met her lifelong love, Wesley Johnson. During their more than forty years together, Shelly and Wes built a life rooted in love and family. Together they welcomed their son, Jason, and the three of them formed a small, close-knit family. Shelly deeply valued the love and closeness she experienced growing up and was proud to create that same sense of family in her own life as a devoted wife and mother. Shelly was never afraid to put in the hard work and was always willing to lend a helping hand. From her factory work at Trimfoot and Brown Shoe to the many responsibilities she carried throughout her life, Shelly approached everything with strength, determination, and pride. Even in the face of adversity and uncertainty, Shelly found the courage to attend night school and earn her GED in 1999. Shortly after, she began her career as “Ms. Shelly,” serving as the custodian at Arcadia Valley Elementary School for nearly fifteen years. She adored her job and loved being around the students, taking pride in making sure they had clean, welcoming classrooms in which to learn and grow. Being “Ms. Shelly” gave her a strong sense of purpose, and she cherished feeling both needed and appreciated by the students and teachers she saw each day. Shelly will be remembered for her fierce love, unwavering loyalty, and protective nature toward the people she cared about most. Though she often carried the worries of those around her, it came from a place of deep love and a desire to make life easier for the people she loved. Shelly never hesitated to help those closest to her and was always willing to put others before herself. Shelly found joy in life’s simple comforts: countless shopping trips from Farmington to St. Louis with her son, watching “her soaps,” The Young and the Restless and The Bold and the Beautiful, sipping on a fountain Pepsi from Butch’s, decorating and redecorating her home, going all out for Christmas with childlike excitement, chatting on the phone with loved ones for hours on end, enjoying a good Savage fish fry, and taking pride in her beautiful flowers and garden. More than anything, Shelly will be remembered for the fierce love, comfort, and unwavering support she gave to the people lucky enough to call her family or friend. She is survived by her loving son, Jason, with whom she shared a profound and unbreakable bond; her ever-faithful and protective dog, Milo; her spirited and beloved grand dog, Buddy; her treasured older sister, Belinda (Savage) Robison; her devoted sister-in-law, Reba Savage; her special nephew and niece, Doug and Melanie; her cherished nieces, Angie and Mandy; her sweet great-nieces, Rylee, Hayden, and Lexie; her brother-in-law, Kevin Johnson, and his family; four older brothers; her close friend, Jennifer; and many, many nieces, nephews, great-nieces, great-nephews, extended and bonus family, and friends. She was preceded in death by her lifelong love, Wesley Johnson; her mother and best friend, Mabel (Brawley) Savage; her father, Carl Savage; her brothers, Edsel, Deb, Dennis, and Kevin Savage; her most cherished brother, Tim Savage; her adoring niece, Becca Robison; her mother-in-law, Hattie Johnson; and her sister-in-law, Alice Johnson. An informal, open-house visitation will be held on Tuesday, May 26, from 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM at Cole Family Funeral Home for those wishing to pay their respects, sign the guestbook, and view a memorial slideshow celebrating Shelly’s life. A formal memorial service will begin at 12:00 PM. Memorials may be made in Shelly’s memory to a cancer research, chronic illness, or health-related organization of the donor’s choice.

Shelly Ann Johnson

January 3, 1964 - May 19, 2026