Clifford A Johnson

Clifford Johnson, age 93, WWII veteran, passed away at his residence in Austin on June 22, 2019.  Funeral services will be 11:00 a.m., Thursday, June 27, 2019 at Scott’s Funeral Home, with burial following at Jonesboro Cemetery.  Visitation will be one hour prior to the service.

Clifford was born on April 22, 1926 in rural Hamilton County to the late Walter A. Johnson and Lois Lightsey Johnson.  He grew up and attended school in Turnersville. Clifford enlisted in the United States Army in September 1944 at the age of 18.  He was inducted at Ft. Sam and went to armored training at Fort Knox, KY, ( “where the mud is ankle deep, and the rain it ceases not….”) Five months later he boarded the Queen Mary destination Metz, France, arriving aboard GI truck.  He joined the 778^th Tank Battalion (known as the “Thunderbolts” or Bastard Battalion run by Gen. George Patton, they would attach themselves to most every infantry battalion, whomever was in trouble), as a tank driver.  He attained rank of Tec-4, received two battle stars, medal for Army of Occupation, and a Bronze Star Medal, he saw action throughout Europe from January 1945 for the duration. He married Mary Lou Hill on November 12, 1947 at the East Main Church of Christ.  Clifford retired from the City of Austin.  He was a cowboy and rancher all of his life.  Clifford loved the outdoors, watching sporting events and sitting around drinking coffee with friends at coffee shop in Manor. He also loved watching old westerns no matter if he had seen them before.  

He was preceded in death by his parents, sisters, JoAnn Mariott and Nancy McAnally; brothers, Donald and Walter Jr. Johnson; grandson, Cohnway Matthew Johnson.

Clifford is survived by his wife of almost 72 years, Mary Lou Hill Johnson of Austin; son, Mike Johnson and wife Candice of Rockdale; daughter, Pamela Shannon of Austin; sister, Georgia Mae McBeth; grandchildren, Gene Shannon, Pamela “Cissi” Shannon Cox, and Christopher Michael Johnson; great-grandchildren, Zachary, Joshua, and Ella Shannon, Cameron, Ali, and Lauren Cox, Sterling Johnson and Logan Griffin.

                                                                  “Old Soldiers Never Die, They Just Fade Away”

                                                                                           - General Douglas MacArthur