Mrs. Myrtle Doris (Christensen) Johnston

Early in her childhood she was nicknamed “Fakey” by her father, a name by which she was lovingly referred for the remainder of her life by her husband, mother, nieces, nephews, and close friends.

Following the death of her father, the family moved to Dallas where she helped her mother to manage the household and the upbringing of her four brothers. She and her brothers all completed their education and graduated from Sunset High School in Oak Cliff, TX. Following graduation, the four brothers enlisted in the armed forces and Fakey went to work for Employers’ Casualty Insurance Company in downtown Dallas.

In 1944, she enlisted in the US Marine Corp Reserves and headed to Marine Corps Base Camp LeJeune in North Carolina for basic training, and then to Marine Corps Air Station El Toro in California for further training. It was while stationed at El Toro that she met Eddie Johnston, another Marine stationed there. They fell in love and wanted to marry. On January 30, 1945, after having petitioned and received permission from her commanding officer to be out of uniform for the day, and borrowing a wedding dress from a fellow Marine, she married Edmund C. Johnston Jr, the love of her life for 60 years.

After their discharge from “the corps,” they lived in Southwick, MA, until 1953, at which time they boarded a train with their 4 children, 2 dogs and all their worldly goods and moved to Dallas, TX, where they lived for over 40 years. In 1998, they moved to Gun Barrel City, TX.

Fakey accepted Christ as her Lord and Savior as a young lady and part of her expression of faith was to unite and participate as a member of a local church where she could worship and grow in her faith. She was an active member of various churches from the time she was a youngster in Dallas, raising her family and then years later in Gun Barrel City.

She was predeceased by her husband, Edmund C. Johnston, Jr.; son, Edmund C. Johnston, III; her granddaughter, Jennifer Bryant Caddell and son-in-law, Fred Bryant.

She is survived by her daughters Carol Bryant, Karen Ables and husband, Jack; and Christine Mitchell and husband, David.

Also, 9 grandchildren: Edmund C. Johnston, IV, Allen Bryant, Darla Schembera, Benjamin Ables, David Gabellieri, Leslie Day, Sam Mitchell, Richelle Perron and Mackenzie Seal; as well as 25 great and great-great grandchildren. And many, many nieces and nephews.

Fakey loved her family and rarely, if ever, forgot a birthday, graduation, anniversary or other special event. She was very loved and appreciated also for staying in Christmas card communication with all of her husband’s extended family and hers as well.

During the last two years of change of residence and circumstances, as Fakey became a part of the Morada Community, she was hindered by difficulties in hearing and sight, but her mind and heart stayed engaged. She was deeply appreciative (and said to us often) how much she was thankful for the loving care she received from all of her friends and staff at Morada.

She was a person who always thanked people for every gift or gesture on her behalf, no matter how large or small. Even in her last days in the hospital when she was unable to speak clearly enough to be understood, she tried to mouth her thanks to hospital caregivers and to each of us.

And if she were able to speak today, she would be saying “thank you” to each of them again and to all of you for being here today.