Dorothy Mae Johnson

Dorothy Mae Johnson (Miller) was born February 1, 1943, in San Antonio, Texas to William and Bertha Miller. Dorothy was the youngest and the only girl with 5 brothers. Growing up Dorothy enjoyed playing sports and spending time with her brothers. She graduated high school from Hondo High School in 1961. In August of 1961, she planned on going to college at Mary-Hardin Baylor. The summer after graduation she came to Houston to babysit for her brother Walter, and wife Shirley. When Walter’s friend Ray introduced his twin brother Roy to Dorothy the first time, Roy said she was going to be his wife. Although the feeling wasn’t mutual immediately, it eventually was because she broke off her current engagement to spend time with Roy. Dorothy’s mother brought her ex-fiancé to Houston to try ‘talk some sense’ into her but it didn’t work. On October 14, 1961, just 3 months after meeting, Roy and Dorothy got married.

In 1964, they had John and in 1965, Annette. Dorothy was an active mother, not just being their biggest cheerleader while they played multiple sports but also coaching them in softball. She seamlessly juggled a family, taking care of her children, husband and her mother and a had a career as a computer programmer, until retiring in 2001. Her free time was spent travelling with family and friends, spending time at their lake house in Livingston, and gardening.

When Dorothy became a grandmother in 1984, she didn’t want the ‘usual grandma’ name, like Granny, so her and Annette came up with Gammie. Eventually many people addressed her as Gammie, her children, friends and even coworkers of her granddaughter’s. Dorothy played a huge role in raising her oldest granddaughters, Ashlie and Taarna, who lived with them off and on growing up. She was their 2nd biggest cheerleader at their swim meets, because nobody was louder than Annette! She taught them how to drive, cook, sew, how to write a check and balance a checkbook, along with a multitude of other things they will carry with them through life. She was proud to watch all her granddaughters pursue their dreams, with milestones like graduating college, have babies of their own, start businesses/careers, and travel the world. She was the most patient, loving woman, she had the highest morals, and treated everyone equally.

Gammie was the glue that held her family together, the whole family adored her.

Dorothy left her physical form October 24, 2023, but her spirit, kindness and love will forever be with us. She is preceded in death by her parents, William and Bertha Miller, daughter Annette Johnson, husband Roy Johnson and brothers Albert, Buck, William and Walter Miller. She leaves behind her brother Elbert Miller, son, John Johnson, granddaughters Ashlie Frank, Taarna Strahan and Kashmir Frank, 4 great-grandchildren, Za’Tara, Ambrea, Amir and Sevyn, as well as many cousins, nieces, nephews and friends.

In Lieu of flowers, the family requests that family and friends please send potted plants or make a donation to www.HAPS.org.

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