Helen LaVonn Johnson

We are celebrating the life of Helen Lavonn Johnson, beloved wife, mother, grandmother, and friend who passed away peacefully on March 08, 2025, at the age of 79. Born on March 20, 1945, Helen brought joy and warmth to everyone who had the privilege of knowing her.

Helen is survived by her loving husband: Wayne Johnson, the light of her life. Her son: Bruce Johnson, Granddaughter: Kayla Johnson, One Uncle: Alton Rush, Aunts: Jean Rush, Faye Covington and Carolyn Rush. Nephews: Coy Johnson, Clint Johnson and Donald Johnson. The Nieces: Kristi Pickett, Julie Sullivan, Cindy Cotton, April Dawn Gollihue and Karen Clark. Helen’s closes friends (in which they are family members) are Gail Frazier and Olive Biggerstaff. All the family/friends that were not listed or knew of Helen, you have a spot on this list as she had many friends. Helen “The Wife, The Mom & The Friend) she was a believer in God, and she knew that Jesus died on the cross for all our sins.

Helen was married to her devoted husband, Wayne Johnson for 61 and ½ years. Together, they built a family by taking one step at a time. After the first 4 years of marriage, they then decided to adopt a child to be a part of what they had created. After moving to a couple of various places, they decided to build a house of their own in De Soto, Texas, in which she lived in until she was called home by Jesus.

Helen was passionate about everything that she set her mind to do “and that was almost everything.” Helen was salutatorian of her class of 1963 in Waxahachie, Texas. Helen was on the dean’s list at El Centro College in 1977 and she was also on the dean’s list at Cedar Valley College from 1995 - 2010. Helen was also on the Who is Who -Top 100 students in the US in 2009 with a GPA of 4.5. Helen was a leader in creating a 4-H club “Cornerstone 4-H” that was in Dallas County. She also volunteered and served on the De Soto Police “COP” Citizens on Patrol for 14 years in her spare time. Helen also enjoyed not only playing the piano - professionally (in the Gospel arena) but also taught adults and children in how to play the piano for over 50 years. She was a very accomplished musician as she played the organ, acoustic and bass guitar, including the mandolin. Helen attended the Stamps Baxter School of Music in Dallas (All Southern Gospel Music) for every year from 1951 through 1963. On June 30,1963 she then sang with a trio, in which they were on KRLD Radio. Helen played for a professional group that started the music entertainment business as the Gatlin Family to later became the Gatlin Brothers. She wrote two gospel songs that were published in 1964 by the Stamps Baxter Publishing Company. Helen played the piano with some greats such as Marion Snyder, Joe Roper, Jack Taylor, Harvey Shelton and Henry Slaughter.

While attending Cedar Valley College, Helen played several concerts and played a role in a couple of plays. Helen found an interest in riding horses then started showing horses in 1978 and continued until 1999 before she came down with breast cancer, which she was able to beat! Helen trained several horses (English & Western) and would take them to the appaloosa and quarter horse shows, and she would win! Helen would continue training and worked with her son Bruce while he was in 4-H. Because of Helen’s drive, Bruce became a showman and the kid to beat at all the horse shows they attended. Helen’s dedication, elevating mindset, and her determination for the 4-H Cornerstone Club, let’s just say it wouldn’t have ever existed if it hadn’t been for Helen Johnson. In 1985, her son Bruce won the highest award in 4-H that a person can achieve. It was the “Gold Star”. Her smiling face told everyone as Bruce received his award, “Priceless – We Did It!”. A Proud Momma.

Helen’s family invites all who knew her to join them in remembering and honoring a remarkable woman.