Mrs. Ben Johnson died at a hospital in Wichita Friday morning from the effects of an operation.

Mrs. Ben Johnson of the Charleston, Okla., neighborhood, who had been in rather poor health for the past several months and who was taken to the hospital but a few days ago died from the effects of her second operation.

Mrs. Johnson had been at the hospital last spring, but as she did not improve another operation was recently decided to be necessary and she never recovered from the effects of it.

Mrs. Johnson was a bride of but little over a year having some twelve months ago married Ben Johnson, son of Geo. H. Johnson. They had made their home since marriage on the Johnson ranch near Charleston, Oklahoma. Her death was untimely and she is mourned by a large circle of friends and relatives.

The body was brought to Protection Sunday and the funeral was conducted by Rev. P. L. Mawdsley in the Methodist church Monday at one-thirty.

Lavada Ellen Smith was born September 24, 1898, near Peck, Kansas. She moved with her parents to Woodward, Oklahoma, in the year of 1909, where she united with the M. E. church in the spring of 1913. She was very happy to her church life, attending all services, going to Sunday School nine months of one year without missing a Sunday. She came with her parents to Protection in the summer of 1914. She was united in marriage to Benjamin Allen Johnson, the ceremony being performed by Rev. P. L. Mawdsley, pastor of the M. E. church, on June 29, 1915, at Protection. The following spring she and her husband moved to a farm near Charleston, Oklahoma, where they resided till the time of her death.

She died Saturday morning, December 29, 1917, at 8:20 o'clock, at Wichita, Kansas, aged 29 years, 3 months and five days. She leaves a husband, father, mother, two sisters and two brothers, and hosts of friends to mourn the loss of one of a very sweet disposition.

Mrs. Johnson had a kind and loving nature, the making of a fine woman. It is sad that one so young, so helpful and so promising for a useful life, should be called from this mortal life, but it is also comforting to know that they are prepared to leave it and enter into the presence of the father of us all.

Services were held at the Methodist church in Protection Monday afternoon, conducted by Rev. P. L. Mawdsley, and the body was laid to rest in the Protection cemetery.

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