Willie Lyndon Johnson

Willie Lyndon Johnson, age 94, of Gatesville, passed away Sunday, June 18, 2017. Funeral services will be held at 10:00 a.m. Friday, June 23, 2017 at Scott’s Funeral Home. Burial will follow at Restland Cemetery. Visitation will be from 5 to 6:30 p.m. Thursday at the funeral home. Willie was born on November 13, 1922 in a rock house just east of Jonesboro, Texas to George and Martha Bennett Johnson. He left school in the late 1930’s to work with the Civilian Conservation Corps crew building the new Highway 36 passing through Jonesboro and worked in the west Texas cotton and maize fields. He married Clara Belle Pugh on November 22, 1941 in Stanton, Texas after a whirlwind courtship where he met her working on her Uncle Hugh’s farm. The couple had four children together, twins who died in infancy, daughter, Carol, and son, Bob. He served in the US Army in the Pacific Theater for the duration of WWII, where he received the Combat Infantry Badge and Purple Heart. After his discharge, he challenged college courses, starting at Clifton Junior College and eventually graduated with a degree in agriculture from Sam Houston State Teachers College in Huntsville, TX. His goal was to be the best farmer in Coryell County, but he took teacher certification as a backup. After graduating in 1949, he moved to Willis, TX and accepted a position as a football coach at Willis High School. He worked for one school year at Willis, and then moved on closer to home to Pottsville, TX in Hamilton County where he served as sports coach, history teacher, and Principal from 1950 to 1952. Then following his love for agriculture, he accepted a position with the Soil Conservation Service, first in Center, TX, then followed in later years by moves to Jacksonville, Rusk, Waco, Crawford, and Rosebud. After parting ways with the SCS in 1963, he moved the family to the farm in Ater, Texas and settled in. After working for many years at the State School for Boys, where he was Principal of the Hackberry Unit, he took on roles working with the Army at Ft. Hood and at American Technological College teaching courses in criminal justice. In later years, he completed his master’s degree in Criminal Justice and Education, as well as getting his Realtor/Broker license and selling real estate with Shorty Smith. Willie was a social, active man who was deeply involved in community activities for the majority of his life. He was a 60 year Mason and member of the Gatesville Masonic Lodge #197 A.F. & A.M. He served as the Chair of the Coryell County Red Cross for many years. He was a member and deacon of First Baptist Church of Gatesville, where he also taught Sunday School. Willie enjoyed discussing politics with the coffee drinkers at the bank, drug store, and McDonalds. His family and friends will always remember him as a man confident in his own opinions. He was preceded in death by his parents, George Coleman Johnson and Martha Adeline Bennet Johnson; infant daughters, Linda and Glenda; sisters, Sarah Maxine Johnson Richards, Georgia Arnetta Johnson Black; brother, Archie Clyde Johnson; granddaughter, Donna Gould. Willie is survived by his wife of 75 years, Clara Belle Pugh Johnson; daughter, Carol Lyndon Johnson of El Reno, Oklahoma; son, Bob Johnson and wife, Ruth Ann of Gatesville, TX; sister, Opal Faye Johnson Stone of McGregor; seven grandchildren, including Lois Richardson, that was raised as a daughter and Anjanette (A.J.) Holladay, Ann Marie Gould, Laurie Johnson, Jeremy Johnson, Eric Johnson and Kerri Johnson; 20 great-grandchildren and 12 great-great-grandchildren, and many nieces, and nephews who will miss his stories. Memorials may be given to First Baptist Church, 912 E. Main Street, Gatesville, TX 76528 or charity of choice.