Venita Bea Roberts Johnson was born September 5, 1938 in Wapanucka, Oklahoma. She was a resident of Denison, Texas. She was the daughter of Almorine and Ellie Elizabeth Bracken Roberts. She, along with her parents and 3 older siblings moved to the Nida Community, Johnston County, Oklahoma when she was one year old. She graduated from Nida in 1956 and attended college at Cooke County College in Gainesville, Texas and Grayson County College in Denison, Texas. She was a member of the Pottsboro Church of Christ.
She married Donald Eugene Johnson March 24, 1956 in Tishomingo, Oklahoma. The young couple’s wedding was officiated by Charles R. Murray. They established their first home in San Francisco, California where Don served in the US Army and was stationed at the Presidio. Upon Mr. Johnson’s discharge from the military, the couple resided in Tyler, Texas where he resumed his career with Texas Power and Light Company (later named Texas Utilities). Throughout their marriage they lived in Sherman, Paris, and Gainesville and returned to Denison to make their permanent home. Two sons were born to the couple.
Mrs. Johnson taught private piano and organ for a number of years while living in Gainesville. They were members of the Hillcrest Church of Christ in Gainesville where she taught Bible school classes. They were also active in school activities serving as officers in the Gainesville Red Coat Band Booster Club where she also served as an accompanist for a number of band students for solo and ensemble contests. Venita has maintained contact with a large number of former Red Coat Band members whom she lovingly called her Baby Chicks and they affectionately called her Momma J, or Momma Hen. In 1977, the Johnson’s were transferred again to the Northern Division of Texas Power and Light, making their home in Denison at the time. Mrs. Johnson was a Medical Transcriptionist and worked at Medical Plaza Hospital for a number of years. She was also employed by Texoma Cardiology (Dr. Calizto Romero and Dr. Mario Bonilla), Dr. Jack Thomas and retired from the Texoma Cancer Center in Sherman. She then did out-source medical transcription work serving as an editor until December, 2017. She did volunteer work as a tutor at Pottsboro Elementary School.
She is survived by her two sons, Mark Johnson and his wife, Diane, of Deport, Texas; Phil Johnson of Denison, Texas; five grandchildren, Jennifer Garrison and husband Josh of Detroit, Texas, Chris Johnson and his wife Allison of Forest Chapel, Texas, Tiffany Simpson and husband John of Paris, Texas, Ryan Johnson of Sherman, Texas and Ashleigh Baker of Denison, Texas. Also surviving are seven great grandchildren; Marlee Garrison, Cy Garrison and Ciannah Garrison, Detroit, Texas, Claytie Simpson, Paris; and Austin Blair, Jordyn Johnson and RaeLynn Johnson of Forest Chapel, Texas. Nieces and Nephews; Joy Beth Garner, Deport, Texas, Cathy Markwardt, Garland, Texas, David Hickman, Garland, Dan Roberts, McKinney, Texas, Karen Johnson Cravens, Oklahoma City, Okla, Pati Johnson Rhea, Anchorage, Alaska, Tommy Johnson, Tishomingo, Oklahoma, and Mike Johnson of Chicago, Illinois; and a large number of cousins, great nieces and nephews and a host of friends.
She was preceded in death by her soul mate and best friend, her husband Donald E. Johnson in 1989; a grand-daughter, Shelby Paige Johnson; her father and mother Almorine and Ellie Roberts; three sisters, Joy Marie Cabbell, Pearl Tucker, and Tennie Hickman; one brother William A. (Bill) Roberts, two nephews, Robert (Bob) Cabbell and Joe Johnson.
Pallbearers will be: Ryan Johnson, Chris Johnson, Josh Garrison, Cy Garrison, John Simpson and David Johnson.
Honorary Pallbearers will be Dr. Gary Dodson, Kory Waller, the Gainesville, Texas Red Coat Band who were under the direction of Mr. Charles Lynch during the 1970’s.
Ministers will be Todd Catteau and Kevin Shimp.
