Our well-loved “Papa Cal” received his reward on October 14, 2021 at the age of 97 years old. Born Calvert Hayes Johnson on March 13, 1924, he was known to his family as “Jiggs” from the 1940s cartoon character. This fit him well as he was always happy to do a jig for anybody.
Calvert was not drafted into the military for WWII due to a lung condition, so he went to help assemble ammunition at a munitions factory in Camden, Arkansas. There he met Mary Elease Turner whom he married in 1944.
Calvert drove a truck for Camel 66 for 24 years. Once he retired from Camel, he drove for Heritage Publishing and later bought his own dump truck. He kept this dump truck until he was 86 years old. As a matter of fact, the dump truck was instrumental in Calvert’s becoming involved with his second wife, Carol (Yarberry) Fraley when she asked him to bring a load of gravel to redo her driveway.
During his lifetime, he was a member of Apostolic Church, Pershing United Pentecostal and First Pentecostal Church, all of North Little Rock. He and Mary Elease were also members of the Razorback Antique and Metropolitan Car Clubs for many years.
Calvert fostered and maintained numerous friendships throughout the years which included his co-workers, fellow church members and retirees at the donut shop. To demonstrate our love for Calvert, we gave him a surprise birthday party when he turned 90 years old. He was amazed at the turnout of people who showed up to help him celebrate!
Calvert was preceded in death by his parents, John Dilmus and Eva, his siblings: Bonnie Marcona (Bruce), Edith Adena, Phonsie Inez, John Dilmus, Jr., Marvin Conockulus, Ophelia June (Toot), Arkansas Fountainell (Johnny), Vera Louise (Brownie), Violet May (Tookie) and Evelyn Marie and his first wife, Mary Elease. His surviving family includes his sisters Omega Z. (Mickey) and Margaret Rowena (Granny) both of California and a brother, James Edward (Pop) of Florida, numerous nieces and nephews, wife Carol of North Little Rock, her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
Visitation for family and friends will be Monday, October 18th, 2021 at 10 am at the First Pentecostal Church of North Little Rock followed by his homegoing celebration at 11 am. A graveside service will be held at 3:00 pm at Rest Hills Cemetery in North Little Rock.
