Elizabeth R. Johnquest 1950-2026

Born to Rita McLaughlin Ryan and James Roger Ryan on July 8, 1950, in Youngstown, her family relocated from Youngstown to Dayton in 1955 when her father began his career as a federal civil servant at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base.

She had fond memories of her childhood attending St. Brigid Church and school in Xenia. She graduated in 1969 from Archbishop Carroll High School in Dayton, where she played drums in the school band. In 1973, she graduated from Bowling Green State University as an English major and journalism minor in education.

She taught high school in Cleveland and Orlando, Florida, but in 1985, returned home to Youngstown to be near her widowed mother, who was in ill health. While in Youngstown, she became program director for the Youngstown YWCA and coordinator for the women’s networking group, The Executive Link.

In 1989, she began her most fulfilling teaching positions with Youngstown City Schools. She taught English, journalism, drama and speech for 18 years at The Rayen School. She was the adviser for The Rayen Record newspaper and, for many years, The Rayen Tigers yearbook. Teaching at The Rayen School was also a sentimental experience for her because her parents, aunts, uncles and even her grandmother, Elizabeth McLaughlin, graduated from Rayen.

When Rayen closed in 2007, she moved with the rest of the Rayen faculty to the new East High School, where she advised the East High Panther newspaper and yearbooks. She ended her career with Youngstown at Chaney, where she transferred to be a member of the visual and performing arts faculty.

After retiring in 2013, she continued tutoring and substitute teaching in Youngstown. In 2023, she accepted a part-time position as the literary lab instructor at East.

She is survived by her two sons, Ryan and Connor Johnquest; her former husband, Matthew Johnquest; and her brother, Mickey (Marie) Saluga. She also leaves over 50 first cousins and her beloved aunt, Betty McLaughlin.

She was preceded in death by her parents; many aunts and uncles who were all especially close to her; her father’s twin brother, Thomas (Ann Morley) Ryan; and their sister, Anna Jane (Clarence Sigmier). Her mother’s McLaughlin brothers and sisters include Mary Helen (Jack McMahon), Vincent (Margaret), Kay (Frank “Bud” Heames), Ann (Frank Flannery), Lenore (Tammy Kerrigan, James Nagle), Suzanne (Charles Johnson), Jim (Mary Agnes), Jeanne (Don Foley) and Richard.

Family and friends may pay their respects 9 to 10:30 a.m. Monday, June 15, 2026, at Higgins-Reardon Funeral Homes, Boardman-Canfield Chapel, followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 11 a.m. at St. Mary Magdalene Parish-St. Christine Church.

Throughout her illness, Betsy was grateful for the support she received from Blood Cancer United. This organization gives hope to families facing blood cancer. Donations help fund research, patient support and advocacy that save lives. Go to givenow.bloodcancerunited.org.

Donating blood to the Red Cross also is an important lifeline that supports people suffering from blood cancers.

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