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Mohney, Marilyn Lois Johnson age 94, passed away Wednesday, March 4, 2026. She was born in Seminole, Florida and was the eldest daughter to the late Jesse and Marjorie Johnson who founded the City of Seminole. Marilyn resided in Seminole her entire life. Marilyn's life started in one of first homes of Seminole, located on the corner of Johnson Blvd. and Seminole Blvd. when it was just a two-lane dirt road. As her life progressed, she attended the only school in Seminole at the time, Seminole Elementary School which was built by her grandfather, John Campbell in 1915. Since Seminole did not have a middle school or high school at the time, she attended Lealman Junior High followed by St. Petersburg High School. During the summers, Marilyn would play football with her brother, Dick Johnson, and friend, Al Repetto, as well as Eugene Mohney who would end up becoming the love of her life for 68 years. In high school, she played basketball and was active in the band, playing the saxophone. After school and on the weekends, when she wasn't with Eugene or swinging from the rafters of her parents' greenhouse pretending to be a trapeze artist, she was working as a carhop at the Bay Pines Drive-in.
On August 6, 1948, Marilyn and Eugene got married a few years after his return from serving his country as a United States Marine during World War II. Shortly after, their first child, Alan, was born; 18 months later, their second child Jesse "Andy," was born. A couple of years later, they welcomed their first daughter, Beverly. Marilyn was a very busy homemaker raising the three children as Eugene worked for his father Maurice, who owned a chicken farm and the Seminole Village Motel. As Seminole continued to grow and the kids went off to school, Marilyn became a teller at the First Bank of Seminole which her father also built. In 1963, their fourth child, Sarah, was born.
Several years later, Eugene and Marilyn took over ownership of Eugene's family business, Seminole Village Motel and Mobile Home Park in 1967. In 1970, Marilyn's father, Jesse Johnson, with a group of prominent business owners and friends, founded the City of Seminole, a community Marilyn loved. Moving forward, Marilyn continued to be active in the community. She belonged to the Seminole United Methodist Church, United Methodist Women's organization, and held all offices. She was a lifelong member of the Seminole Civic club, lifelong member of the Pinellas Seminole Women's Club, Ki-wives (Seminole Kiwanis Club), a founding member of Seminole Historical Society as well as Largo, Clearwater, and Pinellas County Historical Societies. Marilyn and Eugene also loved to travel the world along with their family to Kiwanis conventions. Marilyn also loved spending every year with her husband and families in Highlands, North Carolina.
Marilyn is preceded in death by her husband, Eugene B. Mohney; parents, Jesse W. and Sarah Marjorie Campbell Johnson; brother, Richard C. Johnson; sister, Christine Johnson Sebring; daughter-in-law, Patricia Mohney; and son-in-law, William R. Miller.
Marilyn is survived by sister, Lynda Johnson Whitaker (Scott); children, Alan B. Mohney Sr., Jesse A. Mohney (Sandy), Beverly S. Griseck (Scott), and Sarah A. Miller; grandchildren, Alan B. Mohney Jr. (Debbie), Colleen Wilder (Barry), Jennifer Mohney, Christopher Griseck (Liz), Ashley Arnold, William B. Miller (Brandi), James "Kirk" Miller (Jamie), great grandchildren Jackson Griseck, Caleb Wilder, Matthew Wilder, Auva Miller, Jesse Miller and, arriving August 2026, infant of William and Brandi Miller; multiple nephews and extended family.
Donations may be made in her memory to the Seminole Historical Society, Suncoast Hospice, and the Residing Hope Florida Organization (Florida United Methodist Children's Home).
A visitation will be held on Wednesday, March 11, from 6 to 8 pm at Mohn Funeral Home in Seminole, FL.
A funeral service will be held on Thursday, March 12 at 12 pm at Seminole United Methodist Church in Seminole, FL, with burial to follow at Sylvan Abbey Memorial Park in Clearwater, FL.
MARCH PRESENTATION
Wednesday, March 25, 2026 7:00pm
Memories of Seminole Mall
Gerry Cachia, a longtime community advocate, will be speaking on Memories
of Seminole Mall. As Director for the Seminole Mall he launched Teen Board,
Teen Disco Dances and ShowOffs Theater. As Seminole City Center Event Coordinator he helps coordinate a variety of events, including the First Friday Musical events. Gerry founded our local Red Sled initiative to benefit foster children in Pinellas County. Gerry will give the motto of the historical society, where the Present Remembers the Past, an exciting reflection of years past but not long ago.
Adopt-A-Mile
Great AAM morning!
With the help of Councilor Beliveau, Tina, John and Linda
we collected 6.7 pounds of trash along Old Oakhurst Rd. Thank you!
Join us as we clean up the 1 mile stretch of old Oakhurst Road (74th Ave).
Meet at the Museum. Bring yourself, a pair of gloves, and closed toed shoes.
Pickers, bags, and buckets will be provided.
Check back for our next scheduled walk.
Museum Open
Saturdays and Thursdays
Hours: 10am-1pm
We are now offering private tours for groups.
See the calendar to confirm open dates.
The Seminole Historical Society
and Museum
The Seminole Historical Society was founded to highlight historic artifacts, documents, articles and buildings in Seminole. Its purpose is to ensure that our children and future generations will have a place to go to learn about stories of families from the past who helped create our present, so that we can carve the future.
Members of the Seminole Historical Society can be individuals, families, institutions, or businesses.
Please see our membership page for detailed information.
Seminole exists because of the dreams and actions of those who came before us. Did you know that in early 1860's individual settlers with names like Archer, Campbell, Cobb, Duhme, Grable, Meares, Moody, O'Quinn, Sartorius, Thevenet and Tyler were the pioneer settlers in the Seminole area? They were followed by more pioneers with names such as Johnson, Leach, Longley, Repetto, Thurston, and Whittle.
These early settlers found tall pines suitable for building their homes, ample land to raise their cattle, and plentiful wildlife such as turkey, deer, quail to feed their families.
In 1910, the Seminole area was comprised of just 75 people. The 1920 Census shows names of orange grove owners and farmers living side by side next to each other on one very long road. We know it as Duhme Rd, or 113' Street, or Ridge Road. These families were, O'Quinn, Hinckle, Meares, Johnson, Leach, Brumby, Duhme, and Thevenet.
The Seminole Historical Museum is a gathering place for the dreams of the past and the rich history of our community. The museum is a place for telling stories of those who are no longer here to tell them for themselves.
We welcome you to our website and invite you to visit our beautiful museum to learn about the stories of those "dreamers" from our past who have helped create our present and future.