Emily "Emmy" Otis Johnston Edsell

Emily “Emmy” Otis Johnston Edsell died on May 22, 2025, in Tucson, Arizona, at the age of 76. She was surrounded by her children in her final days and died peacefully in hospice at Peppi’s House.

Born in November 1948 in Cleveland Heights, Ohio, Emmy was the daughter of Anne Louise “Nancy” Johnston and Frank Bremond “Elmer” Johnston. She grew up in Louisville, Kentucky, and spent many summers with family in Northern Michigan, a place that remained meaningful to her throughout her life.

Emmy loved her three sisters: Anne Louise “Weezie” Taylor, Jennifer Owens “Jenny” Rogers, and Catherine Taylor “Catsy” Johnston. She was the third of the four daughters. Her sister Jennifer preceded her in death.

She was a proud mother to two children: Jennifer Louise Edsell “Weezie” Henderson of Oregon and Joseph Patrick of Colorado; and mother-in-law to their spouses, Seth and Danielle. She had four grandchildren: Katherine Taylor, Margaret Morgan, Emmett, and Wyatt, whom she followed with quiet interest and unwavering support.

Over the course of her life, Emmy lived in many places, including Ohio, Kentucky, Colorado, California, Texas, New Mexico, Pennsylvania, and Michigan, before settling in Tucson, Arizona, and Wequetonsing, Michigan, in her later years. During the summers, she could often be found enjoying a Tom’s Mom’s cookie or a Gurney’s sandwich while searching for Petoskey stones.

She was a lifelong animal lover, especially fond of dogs. She had several black Labradors over the years and a ridiculous Cockapoo named Nabisco. At different times, she also had pet rats, all named after foods, which she cared for with particular affection.

Emmy was stubbornly independent, quick to deflect with a joke, and very private. She played competitive tennis most of her life, had a love-hate relationship with golf exhibiting a swing reminiscent of her high school field hockey days, and thoroughly enjoyed playing bridge with friends in Tucson and Wequetonsing.

A celebration of Emmy’s life will be held for immediate family in Harbor Springs, Michigan at a date to be determined this summer.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations in her name to one of three charities: the McLaren Northern Michigan Hospital in Petoskey, Michigan; the American Cancer Society; or the Humane Society of Southern Arizona. These are causes she specifically identified and supported.