Dorothy Mae Johnstone

Dorothy Mae Johnstone, Nederland, Texas, ended her long and full life when she passed away April 23, 2011, at Magnolia Manor in Groves, Texas. While we weren’t ready to let her go, she was ready to go and had said as much many times.

Dorothy came into this world on April 7, 1918, born to Otis and Ruth DuBois, in Beaumont, Texas She and her beloved sister Elwyn Cribbs, Pasadena, Texas, were French High School graduates. Dorothy was an active leader in sports at French High, and made many friends that she cherished all her life. It was likely that her participation in sports was one factor in her meeting Johnny Johnstone, another athlete, whom she married in 1937.

Their first child, Sue, was born in 1940, followed by another daughter, Joy, in 1943. The United States was at war with the Empire of Japan, and Johnny joined the Marines to serve his country. When Joy was five months old, Dorothy and Sue made a train trip to San Diego to spend time with him before he was shipped overseas. I have a medallion with the inscription: “The Hardest Job in the World is Being a Marine’s Wife.” Dorothy did that job with grace, uncomplaining.

After her husband came home from the war, Dorothy gave birth to another daughter, Nita. By then, Dorothy and her family had moved to Port Arthur. During these years, whether hard or good times, Dorothy took her children to Church with her: first North End Baptist in Beaumont, then North End Baptist in Port Arthur. They lived in Lakeview, a suburb of Port Arthur, where many houses were built for the returning veterans. Dorothy went to work for Sears, Roebuck in Port Arthur. She was soon promoted to head cashier, a position she held for many years until retirement.

Dorothy enjoyed being a member of the Sears Bowling League, and was a consistent performer. She was also an ardent fisherman, along with her husband, and they both enjoyed camping and fishing on Sam Rayburn Reservoir.

Dorothy and her husband moved to Nederland in the mid-seventies, where she joined the Seventh Street Baptist Church. She became a familiar figure on a certain pew, always joined by her loyal friends. In her private times, she never failed to pray for her family, or whomever God had laid on her heart. After worship service on Sunday, a routine developed: Nita and Eddie McGowin would come by the church after their services were done, pick up Dorothy, and go out to eat. I doubt there is a restaurant in Mid-County that they didn’t try. It was the high point of her week.

Her oldest daughter, my wife Sue, has told me that her mother would stay up all night sewing, making a dress she didn’t know was needed until the day before. I hope such self-sacrifice still exists in the hearts of mothers in our culture today.

Dorothy was preceded in death by her husband, Johnny Johnstone, and her daughter Joy Landry (Thermen) of Hillister. She is survived by her sister, Elwyn Cribbs of Pasadena, Texas; daughters, Sue Dammon (Gene) of Port Neches and Nita McGowin (Eddie) of Port Neches, seven grandchildren: John W. Dammon, Sr. (Kathy) of Bangkok, Thailand; Debby Addison (Nathan) of Port Neches; Buddy Landry Jr. (Penny) of Wildwood; Tom Landry (Cindy) of Hillister; Becky Dammon of Nederland (Darin Tauzin); Christie Cure (John) of Jasper; and Chuck Britten, Jr. (Shannon) of Bridge City; twenty-two great-grandchildren, and four great-great-grandchildren.

Visitation will be at Forest Lawn Funeral Home in Beaumont from 5:00 to 8:00 PM, Tuesday, April 26, with the Funeral Service at Forest Lawn, 4955 Pine Street, Beaumont, at 2:00 PM on Wednesday, April 27, 2011.