Mary Jo Butler Johnson was born on April 8, 1937, she was the daughter of the late Otis and Gertie Price Butler. She was born in Vernon, Texas and at the age of 7 her family moved from Vernon, Texas to El Paso to be near her grandparents and family. Mom had a soulful heart filled with laughter, warmth and sincerity towards those who were a part of her life. She was devoted to family and close friends. She was a second mother to her younger siblings. Surrounded by family Mary Jo Johnson went home to the Lord on September 29, 2026.
She attended and graduated from Douglas High School in El Paso. After graduating high school, she got a job cleaning office buildings in downtown El Paso to help out with family financial needs. Mom and her best friend and first cousin, Mable Hill were also hired as waitresses at the Wabash. It was a lounge that was located at Alameda and Reynolds Streets in El Paso. I remember mom and Mable meeting new friends and earning good tips at the lounge. Mary Jo went on to receive her barber’s license and went to work cutting hair at various locations. After a few years Mom went on to become a nurse’s assistant and worked at R.E.Thomason General Hospital. Two of her hobbies were learning how to play the piano and shopping.
Mom married Army veteran Harold Albert Johnson, (dad), on October 31, 1966. His duty assignment was Ft. Bliss, Texas until the family moved to Ft. Hood, (Killeen), Texas in 1971. After serving three years in Ft. Hood, they were transferred to Germany where mom got to see most of Europe. After spending three years in Germany, they came back to El Paso to be with family.
Mom was preceded in death by her husband Harold Albert Johnson, her parents, Otis and Gertie Butler and sisters, Dorothy Jean Maynor, Marie Cuffie and Abbie Polk. She is survived by her brother, Ottis Butler Jr. her sister Ruby Ladson, her son Jerome Johnson (Delores) her daughter Kim Johnson, granddaughter Teona Ducre and great grandkids Sydney and Grant Blevins. She is also survived by a host of cousins, nieces and nephews.
