Life

She has no quit

89-year-old Gail Johnson plans to work ‘until they fire me’

YOUNGSTOWN -- While most people look forward to that magic number when they can retire and leave the work world behind, Gail Johnson has no intention of leaving the work world behind. As she said, "What would I do?"

Johnson, 89, works full-time as a receptionist at PsyCare in Boardman, a busy mental therapy office.

Johnson was born in Youngstown and graduated from East High School in 1954. While in high school, she worked at a towel supply company. After graduation, she became a receptionist at the Haber Furniture Company in downtown Youngstown.

To date, her longest place of employment was as a claims representative for State Farm Insurance, where she worked for 35 years. She said she retired from there in 2001, but her "retirement" did not last long.

"After retiring, I worked at St. Elizabeth Hospital in their outpatient mental health offices until they closed," Johnson said.

Not one to sit around and wonder what to do next, Johnson started working as a part-time receptionist at PsyCare in Boardman. Noting she has been there for "at least 20 years," Johnson said in 2007, the position turned into full-time and she stayed.

Johnson said there are many reasons she continues to work.

"First of all, I like working. I like the people I work with. I like being able to help people," she said.

In addition to answering phones, Johnson is also responsible for checking people into the office and "scanning lots of paperwork because there is a lot of paperwork with insurances."

Johnson chuckled as she admitted that she had some concerns about learning a new computer system that was recently installed.

"I even threatened to quit." She confessed that she was a "little worried because of my age, but I caught on pretty fast."

It is evident from her various places of employment that she "caught on" to all her jobs "pretty fast." In addition to being a receptionist and a claims adjuster, Johnson also worked as a bookkeeper and "copy maker" at Youngstown Sheet and Tube until she got married.

Johnson likes to stay busy.

"On the weekends by the time Sunday rolls around, I am ready to go back to work on Monday," she said.

Noting that she works with many different people, Johnson said she likes checking insurance and assigning therapists to new clients.

However, one must not think she lives only to work. Family is very important to Johnson. She has one son and two stepdaughters. She also has one grandson, six granddaughters and 13 great-grandchildren. Her husband, Larry, whom she married in March of 1966, passed away in 2007.

As if working full-time is not enough to keep her busy, Johnson said she is very involved with her family. She said she has crocheted many items for the children. She also is a devoted grandmother following the children's sport activities.

"They are in different schools, so I am always going to different places."

She said two of her great-grandsons play flag football -- one in Austintown and the other one in Canfield.

"I am always on the move," Johnson said.

Additionally, she follows her great-granddaughter's cheering team.

She is proud of her grandchildren and spoke of her grandson, who is 40 and has Down syndrome.

"He works at the Lunch Bucket in the old South Side Hospital building and is part of the Purple Cat," she said.

Though surprised she was being interviewed for the newspaper, Johnson said she is not the only person in her family to be featured in the newspaper. She recalled that her sister, June Summers, 85, who is an author and is legally blind, had her life story published.

"I am one of 13 kids and June and my sister-in-law who is 92, and I are the only ones of our generation left," Johnson said.

When not working in the office or attending family sporting events, Johnson said she enjoys crocheting and "going to the kids' and grandkids' houses and playing video games with them."

It is evident that Johnson enjoys working, enjoys her hobbies and enjoys her family. She said the whole family gets together for lunch every Saturday, noting there are usually 12 or 14 people at lunch, including her nieces and nephews.

Johnson said she has no plans on quitting work.

"You have to stay busy, you have to keep moving. Even with the new system, I plan on working until they fire me."