Mildred Elaine Johnson

Mildred Elaine Dickel Johnson exploded onto the scene on November 11, 1958, born to Raymond Eugene Dickel and Catherine Mae Cheatham Dickel. Mildred and her sister Alice grew up in Garden Oaks, attending Catholic school at St. Ambrose and graduating from St. Pius X High School in 1977. She remained close with several of her high school friends, who will gladly regale you with stories of the trouble that they would get up to--both back in high school and more recently, where not even a broken neck slowed Mildred down much.

Mildred worked for many years at Castle Dental, before proudly receiving her BSN from University of Texas Medical Branch, and finding her calling as a science teacher, first at Humble Middle School, then St. Mary Magdalene in Kingwood, before spending the majority of her teaching career at her alma mater, St. Pius X High School, where she taught forensics and IPC. She loved teaching, would even sometimes teach in her sleep, and her passion for science inspired many classrooms of students both during the school year and in the summer when she taught DECATS with elementary school students. Her classroom was always full--full of various animals, including the popular Snakey the corn snake, full of students in the Anime Club or the TAPPS academic team, full of laughter, and full of nerdy conversations about Dr. Who, Star Wars and Pokemon. Students could always count on Mrs. Johnson to lend a sympathetic ear or a bit of advice, or just a place to hang out at lunch.

Outside of school, Mildred appreciated theater--volunteering at the Theater Suburbia and finding a home away from home at the Texas Renaissance Festival, first as a cast member and then taking on the role of Grandmama in Transylvania. In fact, her only funerary plans involved having her ashes shot out of the cannon that starts each day’s Festival. An avid reader, Mildred loved fantasy, science fiction, Stephen King, and anything related to natural disasters. She loved watching horror movies, but would watch “The Wizard of Oz” any time it was on television. She was also deeply invested in Law and Order: SVU and will definitely want to know if Benson and Stabler ever get together.

Mildred loved her children; loved spending time with them, with fond memories of their multiple trips to Disney World over the years and always in the process of planning the next trip. She loved music and would drag Michelle along to concerts featuring everything from Cher to Matchbox 20. All her children fondly remember the Halloween costumes that she would sew for them each year.

Mildred is survived by daughters Elizabeth, Michelle Khan (Jesse); son, Max Johnson; and her beloved dog Toto.

Those who knew Mildred will remember her for her intelligence, care, and strong-willed nature, as well as her sharp sense of humor and brightly colored hair. She was a hilarious, opinionated, and stubborn woman who leaves a hole as big as her personality in the lives of those who knew her.

Mildred’s vigil service and rosary (sans TRF cannon) will be held at the Pat H. Foley funeral home on June 23, with visitation from 6 to 7 p.m. with service to follow.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to Houston Public Media.