Dorothy Johnson

Dorothy (Dode) A. Johnson, 81, died Sunday, November 26th, at Midland
Hospice in Topeka. Dode was born in Amery, Wisconsin, October 28,
1925, to Harry E. and Hazel Vaughn Anderson. Dode decided to become
a nurse after she found her father critically injured on their family
farm. She graduated with honors from the Swedish Hospital School of
Nursing in Minneapolis, MN. She then accepted a position at the
Topeka VA Hospital to help care for injured WWII vets. There she met
John C. Brier. They married and had three children, Jaime Christine,
John Coe, and Peter Vaughn Brier.They later divorced. Dode quit
working to raise her family, returning only after her youngest
started full time school. She resumed nursing at Stormont-Vail
Regional Medical Center and later specialized in cancer care after
her oldest son John was diagnosed with Leukemia. Dorothy received
the Golden Rose Award from the Junior League of Topeka. She also
received the Bal-Jeffrey Award of Excellence (1981) from
Stormont-Vail Regional Medical Center. Previously awarded only to
physicians, she was the first nurse recipient of this honor. In
1984, she received the Lamley Memorial Award for distinguished
service. She retired from nursing May 1, 1993. Dode was preceded
in death by her son John and her parents, Hazel and Harry
Anderson. She is survived by her daughter Jaime Brier and
granddaughter Lindsay Brier-Smith of Topeka, and by her son Peter
Brier and his wife Kim and granddaughters Shanda, Michelle, and Paige
of Wichita. She is also survived by her sisters Katherine Anderson
and Margaret (Gordon) Scharnhorst of Wausau WI. Memorial services
will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Thursday, November 30, 2006, at First
Presbyterian Church, 817 SW, Harrison, Topeka. In lieu of flowers,
memorial contributions are requested for Midland Hospice Care, 200 SW
Fraizer Circle, Topeka, 66606. Penwell-Gabel Mid Town Chapel is in
charge of arrangements. To leave a special message for the family online, please visit ww.PenwellGabel.com.