Carl Monroe Johnstone, 98, died early Saturday morning, September 23, 2017. He was born to the late Mozelle and Carl Johnstone, Sr. in Rutherford, TN on December 21, 1918. Carl’s family moved to Calhoun City, MS when he was a boy. He attended the University of Mississippi and graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree in 1940. During his time at Ole Miss, he led a student “big sound” band in which he also sang and played the sax. One of his fondest memories was performing with the band on a trans-Atlantic cruise ship to Europe in 1939.
Carl served in WWII from 1942-1946, in North Africa, Sicily, and in the D-Day landing at Pont du Hoc. He was severely injured on day 6 of the Normandy invasion, and returned Stateside for multiple operations and recuperation. He returned to office duties for several months before his honorable discharge as Captain. For his service, he was awarded a Silver Star, a Bronze Star, and a Purple Heart, all with oak leave clusters. He was also awarded the French Legion of Honor Medal in 2014 on the anniversary of D-Day. During his recuperation time, he married his loving wife, Mary Elizabeth (Dorman), and they celebrated 72 years of marriage in March of this year. They lived in Memphis, TN briefly before moving to Calhoun City, MS for several years. Carl was elected to the Mississippi State Senate and served from 1948-1949.
In 1954, Carl moved with his family to Longview, TX and began selling airplanes. He had previously obtained his pilot’s license in Mississippi. A few years later, he became a “wildcatter”, drilling oil wells in various parts of Texas. In 1968, he and Mary Elizabeth returned to Memphis, where they lived for 42 years. After visiting their daughter on Cape Cod, MA for many years, they moved from Memphis to Orleans, MA in 2010.
Carl and Mary Elizabeth were active members of both the First Baptist Church of Longview and the Bellevue Baptist Church in Memphis, particularly in the choirs of both churches, with Carl often singing tenor solos. Piloting his personal plane was another pleasure Carl enjoyed, especially when the family traveled to various places coast to coast for vacations.
In addition to his wife, Carl is survived by his daughter, Vicki Longo and her husband, Paul, of Orleans. His son, Don Monroe Johnstone, preceded him in death in 1988. He is also survived by his nephew, Gary Ford and his wife, Tracey, of Memphis. His family and friends will miss his always smiling face.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to Elder Services of Cape Cod and the Islands.
A viewing will be held on Wednesday, September 27th from 2 PM to 4 PM at Nickerson Funeral Home in Orleans. Burial will take place on Thursday, September 28th at 1:45 PM at the Massachusetts National Cemetery in Bourne. For online condolences please visit www.nickersonfunerals.com.
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