As received from the Erickson Crowley Peterson Funeral Home. If you have questions about, or potential corrections to the content, please contact the funeral home directly.
Mary Catherine Johnson (formerly Schmitz), who was a long time resident of Copper Harbor, MI passed away peacefully surrounded by family on April 12, 2026 while under the care of Canal View in Hancock, MI. Mary was born on February 14, 1937 in Chicago, IL, the daughter of Willard Sr. and Ione (DeMarois) Johnson. Mary grew up in the Sauganash neighborhood of Chicago, where she attended grade school. She eventually moved to Coral Gables, FL with her family and attended Miami Technical High School, graduating in 1956. Mary enjoyed spending her summers in Copper Harbor as a child and later worked at her parents’ restaurants, Johnson’s Coral Inn (now known as the Harbor Haus) and Johnson’s Restaurant & Bakery. This is when Mary discovered her love for baking. She married George (Jake) Lane in 1959 and later married Robert (Bob) Schmitz in 1968. After becoming full time residents of Copper Harbor, Bob and Mary purchased the bakery from her parents which they owned and operated for almost 20 years continuing to serve the famous Johnson pasty along with other traditional baked goods.
Mary was very proud of her French Canadian and Swedish heritage. She had a lifelong love of crafting, starting as a child when she would make hollyhock dolls from the flowers of the hollyhock trees in her backyard. She had a real talent for making dream catchers which she sold locally, and even had some displayed at the hospital in Laurium. Mary also enjoyed crossword puzzles and bird watching.
Mary was preceded in death by her parents, Willard Sr. and Ione (DeMarois) Johnson, brother Willard (Edith) Johnson , and sister Janet (Tom) Manniko.
Surviving are her daughters Lesa (Noel) Lane-Richert, Candace (David) Heikkinen, Catherine Newberry, Roberta (Christopher) O’Keefe; her brothers Donald (Jane) Johnson, Phillip (the late Sally) Johnson; her grandchildren Christina (Jason) Snyder, Kelly (Cody Hansen) Lane, Emily (Steven) McCartt, Justin Newberry, Julia Newberry, Jason Heikkinen, Megan O’Keefe, and Madelyn O’Keefe; five great-grandchildren and numerous nieces, nephews and extended family members.
The family wishes to extend a special thank you to the staff at Canal View for their compassionate care and support.
A memorial service will be held at Erickson-Crowley-Peterson Funeral Home in Calumet, MI in June. Additional service details will be provided at a later date.
Erickson-Crowley-Peterson is assisting the family with arrangements. Online condolences for the family can be left at www.ericksoncrowleypeterson.com
Comments