Norma Jean Johnson

Norma Jean Johnson, “Mimi”, passed away peacefully at home the morning of January 10, 2020, after a five-year battle with lung cancer. Born on December 15, 1934, to Helen Dyck Cook and Kenneth Marion Cook in Goessel, Kansas, Norma Jean got to Texas as quick as she could. With a stop at the family farm in Adrian, she grew up with her 5 brothers and sisters in the Texas panhandle town of Vega. A true cattleman’s daughter she could be as stubborn as a mule only to be eclipsed by her sweet, soft and fun-loving personality.

After attending Amarillo Community College Norma Jean moved to Dallas and earned a bachelor’s degree from Southern Methodist University in 1957. Working as a buyer for Titche-Goettinger she met her roommates Vivian Clark and the future Mrs. Dean Kadesky. Living at the Stardust Apartments on Gaston Avenue, Norma Jean and Dean met and eventually married the two eligible bachelors who lived across the pool. On July 19, 1961 Norma Jean married William Bernard Johnson M.D. at Perkins Chapel on the SMU campus. They then built their house in Lakewood where she lived the rest of her life.

Active in the community she volunteered for every PTA opportunity, never missed a game, recital, or event for her children and was a member of the Children’s Women’s Auxiliary where she helped host many events at the Aldridge House. She took great pride in teaching distributive education at Bryan Adams High School and using her connections to provide job opportunities for graduates who were not moving on to college. Norma Jean loved Lakewood and could be found most days on the tennis court or the lower grill room at Lakewood Country Club. A true friend she cherished her time as a member of the Possum Hollow Sewing Club (nope, no stitching going on here), Lunch Bunch, Bridge group, and held court in Galveston every December at Dickens on the Strand with the “Strand Strutters” hosted by her dear friend, Ann Diener.

The most wonderful mother, grandmother, great grandmother, mother-in-law, sister, aunt, friend, and smiling face to anyone she meets Mimi will forever be loved and dearly missed. Norma Jean was preceded in death by her parents, Kenneth and Helen Cook, two brothers, Lanny Cook and Melvin Cook, two sisters, Kathleen Tolbert and Sharon Baynham and two grandchildren, Natalie Grace Eagle and John Robert Eagle, Jr. She is survived by her husband, Dr. William Johnson, two children, Jennifer Eagle (son-in-law John), Christopher Johnson (daughter-in-law Amy), five grandchildren, Amanda George (husband Chris), Alexandra Eagle, Vincent Johnson, Nicholas Johnson, Ava Johnson, great grandchildren, Harper George and Wesley George, sister Marian Bullard (brother-in-law John), sister-in-law Gloria Cook and brother-in-law Sidney Tolbert. The family would like to extend their sincere thanks and appreciation to Raquel Burmudez, the Acappella in Home Care team especially Buzuye and Ayisat, Faith Presbyterian Hospice and Dr. James Ampil of E. Barrow Medical Group for their care and dedication. A Memorial Celebration will be held on Friday, January 17, 2020 at 5:00pm at Lakewood Country Club, 6430 Gaston Avenue, Dallas. In lieu of flowers please consider a donation in Norma Jean’s memory to the SPCA of Dallas or Children’s Medical Foundation.