Karon Lynn Johnson
Karon (Merrill) Johnson passed away peacefully at home on Monday, April 6, 2026, in Salem, Va., surrounded by family.
Karon was born in Oakland, Calif., the second of six children. Karon grew up in Phoenix, Ariz., where she enjoyed dancing, hosting friends, picnicking in the desert, and cooling off on the concrete floor after a full day at the pool. There she met her husband Jim (deceased). Soon after their first date tubing down the Verde River, they married and began a family while Jim finished his degree and they both worked. Karon and Jim moved their growing family around the states until they landed in Big Stone Gap, Va., where she resided for over 40 years. Karon was a patriot. She raised five children who either served in uniform, as civil servants or as teachers, and administered aptitude tests for aspiring military recruits. Karon lived a life of faith as a Christian and demonstrated generosity to all.
From her youth to her last days, she loved children. Her proudest roles were "Mom" and "Grandma," and there was "always room for one more." Karon served as a foster parent, welcomed exchange students from around the world, and helped her own kids navigate parenthood. Karon also volunteered non-stop. She led at the local and state level with the Parent Teacher Association and served as a Court Appointed Special Advocate to ensure children had a safe, permanent home. She served as a Pink Lady at Lonesome Pine Hospital, a server at the John Fox Jr. House, a Wise County Redevelopment & Housing Authority commissioner, and in countless church roles. Karon brought the most-praised food to church gatherings, mostly because she walked around telling everyone how delicious her dish would be. This ability to influence came in handy as she established repeat customers at Johnson's Hardware for over 35 years, where she also assembled chainsaws, organized parts, and repaired small machines.
Karon was a fighter in her own way, whether writing letters to Congress or sticking up for her kids-such as making sure her daughters could fully participate in school activities. She learned from her own father that crying was not allowed if there wasn't any blood. While she didn't suffer whining, she had unlimited compassion for those in need. The only battle she fully surrendered came after many valiant attempts to wear pantyhose in a societally acceptable way.
Karon was brilliantly funny and loved to make people laugh, whether with her, at her, or at themselves. She kept her sense of humor all the way to end, making jokes in her last days. Even with a sometimes tough exterior, she had a deep sense of gratitude for the smallest act of kindness. She was up for adventure and ceaselessly suspicious that something fun would happen after she went to bed. Euchre, anyone? Yes! Road trip? Yes! Sunburns and watermelons? Yes!
Karon is survived by one brother, David Merrill (Penny); two sisters, Leslie Di Vito (Joe) and Jamie Merrill; five children, Ron (Lisa), Patrick (Anne), Renita, Jared (Shel) and Angel Hartt (Lyle); 15 grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren.
Arrangements are being held privately by the family.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to either Samaritan's Purse or the National Scleroderma Foundation. Online condolences may be expressed at www.johnmoakey.com.
