Milton Loyd Johnson

Milton Loyd Johnson, 82, went to be with the Lord on Sunday, February 11, 2007. Born December 4, 1924 in Mount Vernon, Texas, he was the fourth in a family of five sons born to Tully Bell Johnson and Lizzie Deloney Yarborough Johnson. He became a member of First Baptist Church, Mt. Vernon as a child and was active there until entering the U. S. Army in 1944. He became a member of the Methodist Church in 1948. He was a member of Grace UMC in Baytown from 1955 until 1987 when he joined First Baptist Church, Baytown.

He graduated from Mt. Vernon Grammar School as valedictorian in 1938 and from Mt. Vernon High School as salutatorian in 1942. He later served in the U. S. Army medical corps during World War II. After an honorable discharge in 1946, he returned to study chemistry at East Texas State Teachers College where he became a member of Alpha Chi National Scholarship Society. He received his Masters degree in 1948, and married Lola Mae Bonham on May 28, 1948.

He began his teaching career at Panola County Junior College in Carthage, Texas in 1948 and in 1955 moved to Lee College, Baytown where he taught chemistry until his retirement in 1990. He always enjoyed teaching students and trying to help them reach their educational goals. It was gratifying to him to talk with former students from his 42 years of teaching, and often received compliments from them for a job well done.

Woodworking was a favorite hobby throughout his lifetime, including making fine furniture. Developing and keeping up a tree farm and farm house in Maud, Texas took more of his spare time than anything else and gave him much satisfaction. He was a member of the Texas Forestry Association for 25 years.

Lola Mae died May 14, 1986 and was buried in Center Ridge Cemetery in her home town of Maud, Texas. On June 13, 1987 he married Larie McCurry Coffman in First Baptist Church, Josephine, Texas. Larie and Lola Mae had been roommates at East Texas State and were friends throughout the remainder of Lola Mae’s life.

He was preceded in death by his parents; his loving wife of 38 years, Lola Mae Johnson; his step-daughter Janet Coffman; and three of his brothers, Howard Johnson, Eugene Johnson and his wife Eva Lynn, and Murrell Johnson.

Milton considered family to be his dearest treasures on earth, and he was a devoted husband, father, grandfather, son, brother, and uncle. He often expressed to Larie that God had blessed him beyond expectations with the two best wives on earth, good health for most of his life, and the special love of his daughters and families.

He is survived by his loving wife of almost 20 years, Larie Johnson; his daughters and sons-in-law Amy and Walter McCandless, Elaine Barber, and Becky and Sam Adams; his step-daughter Debbie Rogers; his brother and sister-in-law Dr. Waine C. and Deanna Johnson; his sisters-in-law Ruth Johnson and Christell Johnson Gossage; his grandchildren Donald McCandless, David McCandless and his wife Janeil, Olivia McCandless Cohen and her husband Aaron, Michael Barber, Caroline Barber Moellendorf and her husband Derek, Joanna Barber, Megan Barber, Jessica Barber, Matthew Adams, Elizabeth Adams, and Ryan Rogers; great-grandchildren Abigail, Sarah, David, John, and Joseph Cohen, Ryan Pali, Emma Lewallen, and Emma Manning; numerous nieces and nephews; and many neighbors, teaching colleagues, and church friends.

Visitation will be Tuesday at Navarre Funeral Home from 6:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. Services will be Wednesday, February 14, 2007 at 2:00 p.m. at Navarre Funeral Home with Dr. Asbury Lenox and Rev. Karl Tewold officiating. Serving as pallbearers will be sons-in-law Walter McCandless and Sam Adams and grandsons Donald McCandless, David McCandless, Matthew Adams, and Ryan Rogers. Internment will be at Center Ridge Cemetery in Maud, Texas at 3:00 p.m. on Thursday.

Arrangements are under the direction of Navarre Funeral Home & Cremation Services, 2444 Rollingbrook Dr., Baytown, TX, 77521, (281) 422-8111.