Johnnie James Johnson

Jonnie James Johnson, born in Johnson Prairie, Oklahoma, July 23, 1927, has died on August 24, 2021, in Denver, Colorado at the age of 94. He died from natural causes after a long and prosperous life in his beloved adopted city several weeks after his wife Betty Valdez Johnson passed away. They were married in 1958.

He was born at home to Nancy Kingfisher and Andrew Johnson, both full-blood Cherokees and original allotees to the Dawes Rolls 1907. He was the last of this Johnson nuclear family which included Lucy Johnson Ricketts, Susie Johnson Keener, Dolly Johnson Means-Keener, and Mickey Johnson. He had no children, but was survived by the many children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren of his many nieces and nephews. He was also survived by his brother-in-law, Benjamin Valdez and his wife, children, and their families.

Johnnie’s early life in the rural Oklahoma Cherokee reservation included traveling to wheat harvest as a young teenager and attending Sequoyah Boarding School in Tahlequah. Upon graduation he joined the USMC and served 5 years active duty. He attended Bacone College and Northeastern State University, playing baseball for both and graduating from NSU with a major in accounting. He then moved to Colorado, met his bride, and settled in his adopted city of Denver. There they lived and prospered together, occupying the same home for 50 years. He worked his entire career and retired from Blue-Cross Blue-Shield of Colorado as a cost-accountant. He had active involvement with Junior Achievement. He also loved bowling and driving into his beloved Rocky Mountains in his Thunderbird automobile. He and Betty were very much adored by their extended families and took pride in hosting their families and sharing the treasures of their home, city, and state.

Services are closed casket, per his request, early morning September 15 at Ft. Logan National Cemetery where he will rest next to his wife. Honor guard will be present. He is always loved and always remembered for a good life.

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