Charlann Johnson

Charlann Lesh Johnson, 80, of Lake Charles, Louisiana, passed away on November 9, 2025.

Charlann was born on November 4, 1945, in Guthrie, Oklahoma to Jacob Charles Lesh, Jr. and Gloria Ann Lesh (nee Boedecker). Her family moved to Lake Charles, Louisiana in 1959. She graduated from Lake Charles High School and attended McNeese State University. In 1967, Charlann married Robert Jake Johnson, Jr. and they made their home and raised two sons in Lake Charles, Louisiana.

Charlann was a talented crafter and enjoyed painting, quilting, gardening, and most of all, quilting. She had one bird of paradise plant for over fifty years, transplanting it from one residence to another. For many years, she attended and had booths at craft shows in Louisiana and nearby states. She enjoyed visiting quilt shops across the nation and could tell you where most of them were. She was one of the few hand quilters and gifted many of them to friends and family over the years. She was honored to have several of her hand painted ornaments in the folk-art collection at the Smithsonian Institution. Charlann and Jake enjoyed traveling, and visited Hawaii five times. Charlann was a member of the Philanthropic Educational Organization (P.E.O.) for several decades and was a leader in earlier years. In her later years, she enjoyed emailing and keeping in touch with friends across the nation, especially with a cherished friend that she began a friendship with as a pen pal when they were only ten years old.

Charlann was preceded in death by her parents, Jacob Charles Lesh, Jr. and Gloria Ann Lesh (nee Boedecker), and her loving husband, Robert Jake Johnson, Jr.

She is survived by two sons, Charles Lesh Johnson (Jennifer) and Kent Jake Johnson (Rachel), and five grandchildren, Jonah Johnson, Jude Johnson, Stella Johnson, Joel Johnson, and Oliver Johnson.

The family is so grateful for the care that Charlann was provided by Allegiance Hospice, The Gardens and The Guardian community, and Home Instead.

Charlann will be laid to rest with her late husband at Consolata Cemetery.