Clare Johnston Obituary

Clare Shepard Johnston CHARLESTON - Clare Shepard Johnston, a long-time resident of the Charleston area, passed away on November 22, 2016 at the Hospice of Charleston after battling a recurrence of lymphoma. Born in 1943 in Teaneck, NJ to Joseph Henry Shepard and Myrtle Amos, Clare was an enthusiastic scholar and a talented artist. She graduated Valedictorian from Bayley Ellard Regional High School in Madison, NJ in 1961. She continued her education at The Catholic University of America in Washington D.C. where she met the love of her life, James Christopher Johnston. Clare completed her B.A. degree at Glassboro State College (Rowan University) where she also took graduate courses pursuing her Masters in Education. Motivated by Clare's love for history and the warmer climate, Clare and Jim relocated to Charleston, SC in 1987. Clare continued her quest for learning by enrolling in online classes at prestigious institutions such as Harvard University and the University of Oxford. She also continued to cultivate her artistic skills with watercolor and acrylic painting with the Charleston area serving as her muse. Clare's favorite pastimes included spending meaningful and deliberate time with her children and grandchildren, participating in mission projects that showed her Savior's love in action, reading, painting, Rummikub, bridge and studying. She was also a very faithful prayer warrior. Clare was a strong woman of faith, believing in the power and strength of Jesus Christ's love and the beauty and peace that would await her after her passing. She was also the heart of her family. Clare is survived by her children, Marianne Rowley (Jim) of Springfield, VA, Susanne Grose (Matt), of Summerville, SC, Jim Johnston, III of Marathon, Fl, Laura Colson (Ronnie) of Greenville, SC; her grandchildren, Matthew Grose, Jackson Colson and Jacob Colson; and her brother, Joseph Shepard of Short Hills, NJ. She was predeceased by her husband, James Christopher Johnston in June of 2011 and her brother, John Amos Shepard, in December of 2013. A memorial service will be held at 2PM on November 29th, 2016 at The Elms of Charleston Club House, 9077 Delancey Circle, North Charleston, SC 29406. In lieu of flowers, memorials can be sent to The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society or Samaritan's Purse International Relief Mission. Visit our guestbook at www.legacy.com/obituaries/ charleston