Gay Arthur Johannessen

July 17, 1934 ~ June 10, 2021

Gay Arthur Johannessen, if she knew your name, you were her friend and if you ever met her, she knew your name. From the students she taught at Woodlawn High School to her “brides” when she served as a bridal consultant, to the men who would bag her groceries and help her to her car after shopping, Gay was telling stories – in her long southern drawl that could extend words of one syllable to indefinite lengths – and making friends every day of her life.

Over the past several years, her closest friends were the staff and residents of Old Jefferson Community Care where she was tight and sassy with her caregivers, bossy to the administration, controlling of the cooks and the kitchen while being the Queen to the other residents. Before moving to Old Jefferson, her favorite companions were her bridge group of way too many years and the amazing people from AA who she loved so much.

Gay Johannessen, born July 17, 1934, began saying goodbye to her friends over the last week as she went up and down the hallways of her home. Surrounded by her family, she said her final goodbye on June 10, 2021. Of course, this feisty old gal who had not walked in more than four years, decided to get out of her hospital bed and walk her final steps on her last day. There is no doubt that she marched those last steps to her final place of rest.

Her daughter Betsy McMahan and husband Scott, and two sons, William Johannessen and wife Alison, and Robert Johannessen and wife Kelly, all of Baton Rouge, survive her. She adored her six grandchildren, Catherine and Michael McMahan, Will and Nick Johannessen, and Rob and Anna Johannessen. Gay was preceded in death by her parents Leroy and Gay Arthur, and son, Roy Johannessen. Visitation is set for First United Methodist Church of Baton Rouge on Wednesday, June 16 beginning at noon until funeral service at 1:30 p.m. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the Old Jefferson Community Care Activity Dept. at 225-753-3203.