Raymond Walter Johnson

Ray went to be with his Lord on the evening of January 16. He passed away peacefully at his home. It was a natural death. He was born May 29, 1947 in Corpus Christi, Texas. His parents, Henry Waltelr Johnson Jr. and Maxine Roebuck Johnson lived in Kingsville. His father worked for Humble Oil on the King Ranch. They moved to Houston when he was three.

Ray graduated from Robert E. Lee High School in 1965. He became a believer in Christ while in high school and followed some of his friends from there to Houston Baptist College. After two years he transferred to University of Houston studying Psychology. He graduated summa cum laude. He continued on there to pursue a masters in Educational Psychology.

During his years as a student, he expressed interest in various fields. He wrote for the Daily Cougar. Got involved with student government. Joined various protests and was a card-carrying member of the SDS.

He continued in his love for the Lord, being an active member of Inter-Varsity, a student led Christian organization. He joined in a multi-campus outreach planned at University of Texas. There he met a musical group of ex-hippies, Love Song, who wanted his help in advancing the gospel. During what was known as the Jesus Movement, he moved to California in 1973, to join their efforts. He traveled with them as well as booking dates for them around the country.

After the group disbanded, he returned to Houston. He married Carol Sidebottom, a student he had met four years earlier when she was a freshman. She was also a member of Intervarsity and attended the same church as he. They married a week after she graduated.

Having attended Calvary chapel while in California, he knew most of the musicians from there. He became a concert promoter, serving Houston, Dallas, and San Antonio. He developed contacts in Austin and Corpus Christi so that tours could be arranged. He worked at this for over a decade.

After that he was mostly self-employed in a variety of fields. He and his wife raised three children: Nathan, Elizabeth, and James. They gave him eight grandchildren, who lovingly called him Silly Grandpa. He was predeceased by his parents, Henry Walter Johnson Jr. and Maxine Roebuck Johnson, as well as by his two brothers, Henry William Johnson (Bill) and Christopher Ronning Johnson.

Ray is survived by his wife of over 51 years, Carol Sidebottom Johnson, his three children, and his eight grandchildren. They are Nora Lamniai, Sarah Lamniai, Benjamin Johnson, Joshua Johnson, Lukas Johnson, Charlotte Johnson, Claire Johnson, and Aidan Johnson. He is also survived by a nephew, Joseph Johnson. He will be greatly missed.

A visitation will be held at Forest Park Westheimer Funeral Home, located at 12800 Westheimer Road, Houston, TX 77077, on February 2, 2026, from 5:00 pm to 8:00 pm.

The funeral service will take place on February 3, 2026, at 2:00 pm, followed by the committal service at 3:00 pm.