Lucy Stacy Johnson

Lucy Stacy Janacek Johnson, a longtime Flatonia resident, age 92 years, 6 months, 18 days, passed away into eternal rest on Sunday, January 7, 2018, in Hallettsville.

Born June 20, 1925, in Hallettsville, Lucy was the daughter of Peter Paul and Henri (Vollentine) Janacek. Lucy attended Breslau School for the first two years of her education. When she was seven years old, her father passed away after years of battling tuberculosis. After his death, the family (Henri, Lucy, and Lucy’s older sister, Marjorie Frances), moved to the town of Hallettsville and Lucy attended Hallettsville public school. Her final year of high school she was recognized as Valedictorian of the Class of 1942 and the only student in her class who had made all A’s from the time of her transfer in third grade to graduation.

Lucy could never remember a time that she had not wanted to be a teacher. At eighteen, she began her thirty-five years as an educator teaching students in five different grades at the rural Brown School, located outside of Hallettsville. Lucy continued accruing college credits towards a degree in the summers. Because the college courses were easy for her, she considered her summers at college a “vacation.” With interruptions in her degree goal caused by marriage and children, Lucy received her B.S. in Education in 1956 from Southwest Texas State Teachers College (now Texas State University). She eventually taught children from pre-school age in the Head Start program in Waelder to high school students in Flatonia. She also taught in the Hallettsville Elementary School. She taught students in many grades, but she always said that her favorite grade to teach was third grade. Even though she never played basketball as a high school student because it was only a sport for males then, Lucy became one of the first female basketball coaches in the area when she coached both junior high and high school basketball.

To be Lucy’s friend or family member was a precious gift. She was extremely intelligent and stayed mentally sharp by reading voraciously, staying abreast of current events, working crossword puzzles, and writing daily in her journal. She was opinionated and strong-willed, but she was tolerant and understanding of views different than hers. She was not prejudiced and she hated for people to be treated unfairly because of prejudice. She expected much from her friends, family members, and her students, but she expected much from herself. She faithfully watched and enjoyed the San Antonio Spurs basketball games. She loved wearing stylish, new clothes and shopping for clothes for the people she loved – her children, her grandchildren, and her great-grandchildren.

Lucy was a parishioner of the Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Flatonia where she served as a lector, Rosary leader, and CCD teacher. She also was a member and an officer of the American Legion Auxiliary. She was a member of the Lavaca County Retired Teachers Association. After retirement, Lucy volunteered at the Combined Community Action delivering Meals on Wheels.

Lucy is survived by her daughter, Susan Johnson of Czestohowa, Poland, and her daughter, Peggy Halamicek and son-in-law, Henry Halamicek, of Schulenburg. She is also survived by her grandson, John Harkrider; her four great-grandchildren, Jorge Andres Elarba, Carlos Elarba, Gabriela Harkrider, and Mark Harkrider; and her two great-great grandchildren, Braxton Banks and Olivia Banks. She is also survived by numerous cousins, nieces, and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Peter Paul and Henri Janacek; her sister, Marjorie Frances Egolf; and her dearly beloved grandson, Karl Henry Halamicek.

Pallbearers are Jorge Andres Elarba, Carlos Elarba, Mark Harkrider, Jimmy Johnson, David Johnson, and Brian Klozik.

A rosary will be held on Tuesday, January 9, 2018 at Smith Funeral Home in Flatonia at 6:30 p.m. Funeral services will be held on Wednesday, January 10 at 10:00 a.m. at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Flatonia followed by a procession for burial in St. Mary’s Cemetery outside of Hallettsville.

Donations in her name can be made to the Hospice of South Texas, a local public library, or a charity of your choice.

Words of comfort can be expressed online at www.SmithFuneralHomeFlatonia.com

Smith Funeral Home – 128 East 5th Street Flatonia, Texas 78941 – 361-865-3311