Linda Johnson

Linda Jones Johnson was born in Houston, TX on November 10, 1940, the middle child of Suel and Alice Pruitt Jones. When she died on April 28, 2023, the world lost a truly unique individual. She had an activist’s heart, a decisive mind and a spitfire spirit. Being both a lifelong teacher and a lifelong student fueled her integrity and ability to hold truth as her north star, no matter where the collective was moving. To know her was to be deeply inspired.

A true Houstonian through and through, Linda attended Reagan High School and then began her self-funded college education at Hardin-Simmons women’s college in Abilene, TX; earned her B.A at the University of Houston and garnered a Masters of Science in Public Health at the University of Texas Health Science Center. So began her lifelong pursuit of health education.

She married Earl Mead Johnson in 1963 and started her involved life as a devoted wife and mother to Meghan. Those years included Suzuki violin, West University softball, country dancing lessons, neighborhood gatherings, swim lessons, ski trips, hosting hundreds of dinner parties and cookouts, PTA volunteering, reading extensively and corralling Meghan.

Her God-given gift was teaching, and she enhanced faculties of all varieties — from the High School for the Health Professions to Beehive Preschool to The University of Texas Medical School. Her specialized contributions to each school were significant.

Later, when she had the free time to do so, Linda traveled extensively, both with groups and alone. Blessed with abundant curiosity and determined to learn all she could about the world, she visited Vietnam, Cambodia, India, France, Ireland, Costa Rico, Canada — and many sites in the US, including New England, the Southwest and the Pacific Northwest. She also relished participating in numerous sessions at the Chautauqua Institution in New York, which she called “a summer camp for intelligent adults.”

Linda loved spending time in Washington, DC, visiting Meghan and enjoying her friends, their lives and political interests. Every Christmas, she would celebrate with them by attending concerts, parties, and exhibits and eating delicious meals at their favorite restaurants, including “Dirty Italian” on Capitol Hill. A yellow dog Democrat, Linda was highly informed about politics, both locally and nationally, and would welcome a discussion on any variety of topics.

In her fifties, she became an avid biker and participated in the MS 150 for years. She also took several trips with the Bike Vermont organization and rode all over Houston in group rides. She also loved spending time at the Houstonian where she swam - every day that she possibly could - and practiced yoga!

Linda was raised a southern Baptist but quietly left the church early in life. She later found her purpose at the women’s ministry of Brigid’s Place, where she experienced spiritual growth and her soul was nourished by many goddesses including the Black Madonna and Our Lady of Guadeloupe. She also treasured being a part of the Jung Center community, where she relished the creative expression and insight into herself and her community.

Even near the end of her life, Linda was exploring new interests: mahjongg, painting with watercolors, movies and events at the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, and attending classes at the Women’s Institute of Houston.

Linda is survived by her daughter Meghan Cara Johnson of Washington DC; sister Kay Coons of Kerrville, TX; brother Suel Jones of Albuquerque, NM; in-laws Tim and Bera Johnson of the Woodlands, TX as well as many cousins, nieces and nephews. Linda is also survived by her chosen family of lifelong friends, too numerous to name individually.

Those who knew and loved her will miss her infectious laugh and crinkly eyes every day.

A memorial service will be held June 10, 2023 at 12:30 PM at the Jung Center, 5200 Montrose Boulevard, Houston, TX. Gifts in honor of Linda may be made to the Jung Center Houston (www.junghouston.org) or Candlelighters Childhood Cancer Family Alliance (www.candle.org).

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.earthmanbellaire.com for the Johnson family.