Lauren Elizabeth Johnson

We lost our precious daughter on April 4th 2014. Lauren Johnson was a 21 year old art education major at SWOSU in Weatherford, Oklahoma. She loved art and considered it therapy, enjoyed attending rodeos, country dancing and college life.

Lauren was diagnosed with a congenital heart defect at age 3 and severe Pulmonary Hypertension by age 11. Instead of allowing this disease to define her, she made it her mission to live life to the fullest and make a difference along the way. In 2008 and 2009, she and her family held fund raisers called “Painting a Stroke of PHenomenal Hope” where she raised over $25,000 for the PH Association. She was able to travel to Paris in 2009 through a Make-A-Wish grant. In 2010, she received the first Outstanding Young PH Citizen Award at the national conference. It was presented to her by one of the PHA founders. She attended Jones High School and received the Superintendent’s Citizenship Award and was named Prom Queen her senior year. She had been an active member in the Meadowood Baptist Church Youth group. She attended UCO for two years, where she was a Sigma Kappa. She transferred to SWOSU in Weatherford in August 2013, where she found a second family in her art education program. She had goals of becoming an art teacher and although she knew she could never have kids of her own, was dreaming of having a ranch for foster children.

Lauren was preceded in death by her uncle, Larry Taylor, and great-grandparents. She is survived by her parents, James Paul & Melissa Diane (Taylor) Johnson; sister, Addie Johnson; grandparents, Don & Billie Taylor and Jerry & Bernie Johnson; a host of aunts, uncles and cousins: Greg, Becky, Sarah, and Kate Taylor, Greg, Amy, Ryan, and Nikki Johnson, Riley Eppler, Tim, Deborah, and Anna Taylor, Laura, and Adam Couch, Jeff, Julie, A.J., Ashleigh, and Alexis Martin; the love of her life, Jeremy Barnhill; and service dog, Shade.

Lauren left a bigger footprint in her short life than many will leave in a full life time. She leaves behind a host of friends and family in the Midwest City, Jones, Oakdale, Edmond and SWOSU communities. She will be Forever 21.

Viewing will be 4pm to 8pm, Monday, at Memorial Park Funeral Home. A celebration of Lauren’s life will be 2pm, Tuesday, April 8, 2014, at First Presbyterian Church, 1001 S Rankin St, Edmond, OK 73034, with interment to follow at Memorial Park Cemetery.

Donations in her honor may be made to the Pulmonary Hypertension Association at www.phassociation.org/Memorials, Make-A-Wish at www.wish.org/ways-to-help/giving/donate, the SWOSU Art Education program, or to the Johnson Family c/o Kilpatrick Bank of Edmond to pursue Lauren’s dream of a foster ranch. Kilpatrick Bank P.O. Box 2850 Edmond Ok, 73083 (405) 341-8222