Gladys Gooch Johnson, age 94, of Marianna, Florida went home to be with the Lord on Tuesday, February 5, 2019, after suffering a prolonged illness.

She was born on January 26, 1925, in Hemphill, Texas to Walter Lee Gooch and Beulah Youngblood Gooch. She married James E. Johnson on October 3, 1943, in a military wedding chapel in Wichita, Kansas. They were married for 70 years.

Her life-long, professional career was a secretary. Her proficiency, attention to detail, and excellent people skills served her well for eight years as Secretary for Apostolic Bible Institute in St. Paul, Minnesota, and then 20 years as Secretary for West Orange High School in West Orange, Texas, from which she retired. Whether it was a student, teacher, custodian, or top administrator, she was known and loved by all. In post-retirement, she worked as a home parent for Methodist Children’s Home in Waco, Texas, and later worked part time for Orange County Teacher’s Credit Union.

She dedicated her life to serving God and her family. She had a zeal for life, loved to laugh, and was famous for her sense of humor and practical jokes. Her greatest joy was spending time with family and friends. In later years, she was saddened by the death of close family members and the onslaught on Alzheimer’s disease. Her memory will be cherished in the hearts of her family and close friends.

She was preceded in death by her husband, James E. Johnson. She is survived by three children and their spouses, James E. and Joyce Johnson of Huntington, Texas, Sharon and Virgil Lipford of Marianna, Florida, Pat and David Leiter of Manheim, Pennsylvania; five grandchildren, Joel Johnson, Kimberley Johnson, Jason Lipford, Jana Rednour, and Brandon Guidry; seven great-grandchildren, Jeremy Johnson, Jordan Johnson, Faith Johnson, Lance Johnson, Nathan Lipford, Katie Patrick, John Rednour IV, and Josiah Rednour; one great-great-grandchild, Isabella Rose Johnson and a very special niece, Carolyn McLemore of The Woodlands, Texas.

Visitation for Mrs. Johnson will be Saturday, February 9, 2019, beginning at 10:00 a.m., followed by a funeral service at 11:00 a.m, at Claybar Funeral Home in Orange.  Officiating will be Reverend Ronnie Frankens, pastor of Greater Love Tabernacle in Lufkin.

Interment will follow at Restlawn Memorial Park in Vidor.  Pallbearers will be Joel Johnson, Jordan Johnson, Jason Lipford, Jeremy Byrom, Larry Hammett and Johnny Roy Bergeron.