Gazlay Family History
 

Family HistoryFamily History - Irene Helena Johnston


Key:1.“+” before a child’s name indicates the child has their own entry in the next generation.
 2.“born xxxx” indicates the child is under 18 years of age so the birth date is not shown.
This family history features Irene Helena Johnston and her immediate family.



First Generation
1. Irene Helena Johnston,1 born 28 January 1907 in Corrine, Saskatchewan, Canada, the daughter of William George Johnston and Mary Matilda Eagleson;1, 2 died 31 July 2005 in Lake Worth, Florida.2 Irene married, first, 25 June 1933 in Presbyterian Memorial Church, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, John Philp ‘Johnnie’ Patterson1 (born 26 January 1903 in Newark, Essex County, New Jersey, the son of John Philp Patterson and Ida May Hauch;3, 4 Johnnie died 8 December 1978 in Lake Worth, Florida3). Irene married, second, 19 September 1982, Hobart M. Reese1 (born 21 September 1901, parents not determined;5 Hobart died 28 June 1988 in Lake Worth, Florida5).

Irene and her brother Edward Johnston (husband of Ida V. Patterson) were from a large family in Canada. Their parents owned wheat farms in the Milestone, Saskatchewan, area. As a child, Irene was active in church groups and Canadian Girls in Training, similar to the Girl Scouts in the United States. She graduated from Milestone High School in 1926, and she immigrated to the United States on 31 October 1927. Irene attended Drakes Secretarial School in New Jersey, and before her marriage to Johnnie she worked for Penn State College. For 22 years, she worked as a stenographer and clerical worker for Disbrow Manufacturing Co., Newark (and later East Orange), New Jersey. Irene enjoyed sewing, cooking, reading and sports, and she did volunteer work for the American Lung Association. She lived in Lake Worth, Florida near her two sisters-in-law, Ida V. (Patterson) Johnston and Effie (Patterson) Steffen.1

As a teenager, Johnnie attained the rank of Eagle Scout. He attended Newark Technical College, and he also completed several international correspondence courses. He was the assistant sales manager for National Oil and Supply Co. In 1954 he moved to Florida and opened a paint store as an agent for John Lucas Paint Co., along with his brother-in-law, Karl Steffen. He enjoyed bowling, golfing, reading, sports, traveling and music, and he was a Mason.1


  1. Record of visit with Ida V. (Patterson) Johnston at her Florida home in 1996 by Lee Gazlay.
  2. Social Security Death Index (SSDI), Rootsweb (website). Irene H. Patterson, no. 137-03-2712
  3. Social Security Death Index (SSDI), Rootsweb (website). John Patterson, no. 136-09-7419
  4. U.S. Federal Census, 1910, New Jersey, Essex County, Newark, Enumeration District 102, Sheet 2B, John Patterson, 35, Scot[land], com. traveler, Eng. supplies; wife of 13 years Ida M. Patterson, 36, New Jersey, 2 children, 2 living; son John P. Patterson, 7, New Jersey; daughter Ida P. Patterson, 3, New Jersey; father George Patterson, 65, Scot[land], widow, carpenter, stairway co.
  5. Social Security Death Index (SSDI), Rootsweb (website). Hobart M. Reese, no. 285-22-4118