Joe Richard Johnson

Joe Richard Johnson, 88 of Colorado City, passed away on Wednesday, February 19, 2025 in Snyder, TX after a brief illness. A long-time resident of Mitchell County, he was the son of Richard Clyde (Johnny) Johnson & Mayme Floye Byrne Johnson. He will be interred in the Colorado City Cemetery under the direction of Kiker-Seale Funeral Home, with his good friend, Vensen Stuart officiating at the graveside service March 3, 2025 at 2 pm.

Joe was born Nov. 20, 1936, in Wylie, TX and adopted shortly thereafter by Johnny & Floye Johnson. He attended Colorado City schools. He accepted Christ and was baptized as a teenager at the Logsdon Farm during one of their Christian Fellowship get-togethers, as a guest of the Bell sisters. He said he thought about being a preacher at one time but didn’t feel he had enough education for it. His childhood was spent among friends on the South side playing monopoly at one another’s houses, riding his horse, and exploring along the Colorado River.

It is not certain how Joe got into the U.S. Navy with sight in only one eye, due to a childhood injury, but he was eventually transferred to the Seabees, the construction arm of the Navy, and learned to work heavy machinery in a facility in Chicago, Illinois. He was discharged honorably in September of 1954.

Joe was authentic, open & a genuine friend. He led a colorful life, collecting many friends along the way. Judge Mark Merrell interviewed Joe for KVMC Radio at least twice about his music career, which he shared with Colorado City favorites, Ronny Salmon, EZ Ezell, Ben Hinds (who founded the Texas Nobodies) and Big Spring favorites Doc Kilgore and Hoyle & Ben Nix. He was a bass player. He once said he would have loved to just make a living playing music, but he figured he only did that 4 out of the 15 years he played. He enjoyed jamming at Benny Hinds’ mother’s house with musicians and friends in Colorado City as much as he liked being onstage in Austin.

He met Elvis Oct. 16, 1954 at the Louisiana Hayride when he debuted, and shared his experience backstage with Joey Kent, who went on to write a book on the Louisiana Hayride in April of 2000. He met John Wayne (he was wearing overalls) & Doris Day (she had a million freckles) out in California. He was also friends with country music star, Jeannie C. Riley, who often came to Colorado City when she needed a break from show business.

Joe eventually went into business for himself doing floors. He was a member of the Painters Local Union No. 807, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, where he worked for many years. He rode motorcycles from the age of 13, and was once said to have ridden one through the ground floor halls of the old Colorado High School, escaping with the help of a girl who is still living in Colorado City, who may remember the event. He loved a fast-running car.

Joe married Sue Buckner August 7, 1959, and though the marriage didn’t last, they had two daughters together, Stacy Jo Johnson, who died in infancy and Jodi Burkhart Moore, who lives in Phoenix, AZ. He is survived by two grandsons, Zach & Colby Moore of Arizona. He & Sue remained friends and she survives him, along with a host of her family including nieces, Katherine Clanton of Colorado City and Chrystal Walker of Boerne, who were entertained as children by his model airplanes (a hobby he shared with Roger Grimes), miniature roll-top desk with Mexican jumping beans and summer movies at the Loraine Drive In Theatre in his pink Thunderbird convertible. He is also survived by a cousin, Kimberly Stenerson of Coos Bay, Oregon with whom he carried on a weekly phone conversation for decades.

He was preceded in death by his parents & by his birth mother, Benda Laverne Calendine, a brother, Sgt. Larry White and a sister, Shirley Ann Jester.

Honorary pallbearers are Jacky Jackson, Eric Hammond, Daniel Hammond, Thadd Richardson, Kenny Clanton, Marvin Walker, Andrew Sauer, Eli Sauer & Ty Wood.