Sam Houston Johnson Jr.

passed away on August 23, 2018 in Tucson, AZ at the age of 98. Born January 21, 1920 in Duncan, OK. Raised in Kiowa and McAlester, OK by his father, Sam Houston Johnson Sr, a barber. After completing high school in McAlester, OK he moved to Norman, OK where he married Nellie Elizabeth Mansfield prior to graduating from the University of Oklahoma with a degree in Chemistry. Upon graduation he worked at the Oklahoma Ordinance Works before being drafted in the Navy in 1944. After serving two years he entered the University of Kansas where he received Master’s and PhD degrees in Organic Chemistry. After graduation he started to work for Tennessee Eastman in Kingsport. TN but after 4 months was drafted for the Korean War. Upon release he returned to Tennessee Eastman but was transferred to Texas Eastman in Longview, TX where he worked as a research chemist for 31 years. He also refereed boys and girls basketball for 27 years and was an active member of the Elks Lodge in Longview for 33 years. In 1999 he and Elizabeth moved to Tucson, AZ. In Tucson he was active in the Elks bingo program until 2015 and also volunteered with AARP Tax Aide until 2016. He was preceded in death by his wife, Elizabeth, and survived by three children, Mary Karen Hardcastle, Sam Houston Johnson III and Barbara Lynette Groves; 4 grandchildren and 6 great grandchildren. A graveside service was held at South Lawn Cemetery on September 4, 2018.