Alma Rea Johnson

Funeral services are scheduled for Alma Rea (Allie) Johnson at the Eubank Funeral Home in Canton, TX at 1:00 pm on Saturday, December 15, 2012, with Pastor Mike Roberson and Bro. Don Childress officiating.

Mrs. Johnson passed away on December 12, 2012, at the Hospice of East Texas in Tyler, Texas.

Burial will be in Haven of Memories, Canton.

Alma Rea was born January 19, 1913, in Van Zandt County, Texas, to William B. Wilemon and Minnie Goodwin Wilemon. She attended Myrtle Springs School where she was valedictorian of her graduating class. She then attended Wills Point High School, graduating in 1931. After finishing business school in Tyler she was employed in the Tax Assessor-Collector's office in Van Zandt County. When WWII began she left the county's employment to work in a defense plant that manufactured B-24 aircraft in Ft. Worth.

In January, 1944, Alma Rea married Cecil D. (Cotton) Johnson. Shortly thereafter, she and Cotton moved to Oakland, CA, and remained there until after the war. Upon returning to Texas, they moved to Wichita Falls where she served for nine years as office deputy in the Wichita County Sheriff’s Department and as clerk in the Wichita County Auditor’s office. In 1961, Alma Rea and her family moved to Midland, TX, where she worked for Midland County in the Treasurer’s office and County Clerk’s office. Upon retirement from public service in 1974, she and her husband returned home to Van Zandt County. Not completely ready to retire, she went to work for builder Terrell Ogletree and later builders Doyle and Joe Dove in Canton as a bookkeeper.

Alma Rea loved her family very much and greatly enjoyed family gatherings. Her hobbies were reading, working crossword puzzles, the Dallas Cowboys, Texas Rangers, and acting in plays. She was also very interested in world affairs and national politics and retained this interest up until the time of her illness. She starred in numerous plays at the Myrtle Springs Alumni “Straw Hat” Dinner Theater until she was almost ninety years of age. Most of all she enjoyed her church - the First Baptist Church of Canton, TX.

She was preceded in death by her daughter, Allie Sue Johnson; parents; husband, C.D. (Cotton) Johnson; sister, Willie Mae Loven; brothers, Frank and Bruce Wilemon; three stepchildren, Wanda Reynolds, Ralph Johnson and Ben Johnson; three half sisters, Ollie Bates, Minnie Goodwin and Virgie Callens; and one nephew, Dean Loven.

Survivors include one son and daughter-in-law, Dale and Betty Johnson, Lafayette, LA; one granddaughter, Dawn Adkins, Denver, CO; niece, LaRea Miller, Myrtle Springs; four nephews, Bill and Patty Loven, Canton; Barry and Janis Loven, Mesquite; Jerry and Kathy Wilemon, CA; Mike and Debbie Wilemon, Weatherford; and beloved sister-in-law, Thalia Wilemon, Ft. Worth.

Special thanks is extended to her caring friends, Franklin and Laverne Johnson, Patty Lovern, Bill and Jeffie Phillips, and Nolen and Nell Black all of Canton.

Alma Rea, who would have been 100 years old on January 19, 2013, was a wonderful person who had a great love for life and her family. She will be sadly missed, but never forgotten.

Memorial may be made to the Hospice of East Texas Foundation, 4111 University Blvd, Tyler, TX. 75701.