Dorothy Johnson's Obituary
On Sunday, July 9, 2023, Dorothy Irene Johnson, a beloved wife, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother passed from this life at the age of 90 years old while worshipping Christ during a church service at Oklahoma Memory Care Institute.
Dorothy was born in Arkansas, but raised in Webb City, MO. Dorothy was preceded in death by her mother, Opal Patterson, and her father, Ira Patterson; sisters Mary Freese and Shirley Warren, and her brother Frank Paterson; two sons in law, Steve Allen and Harold Phillips. Dorothy was most recently preceded in death by her loving husband Howard Johnson by only 8 months. Howard and Dorothy celebrated their 70th wedding anniversary together on June 7th, 2022.
Dorothy is survived by five children and their spouses. Steve Johnson and wife Cathy Johnson of Sand Springs, OK; Connie Allen of Ankeny, Iowa; Cindy Phillips of Jenks, OK; Amy Underwood and husband Marshall Underwood of Sapulpa, OK; and Lori Amos and husband Al Amos of Broken Arrow, OK.
Despite her dementia, Mom could always recall that she had fourteen grandchildren and was always pleasantly surprised when told she had fifteen great grandchildren.
Married in 1952, Howard and Dorothy began their lives together connected to the US Air Force as Howard served in Korea. While raising their kids the first few years in Webb City, they discovered that God had other plans. Howard began a career with a large wholesale company called Mama’s Cookies. That career eventually took their family from Webb City, MO to Tulsa, OK, back to Webb City, then to Chicago, IL, and finally back to Tulsa. With all that relocation Dorothy’s faith and trust in Howard and in God’s plan kept their family strong and faithful. During all those years they were devoted to a local church in every location. They were members of Webb City Christian Church (Dorothy’s home church), Cincinnati Avenue Christian Church in Tulsa, OK, Sandusky Avenue Christian Church in Tulsa, OK, Tinley Park Christian Church in Tinley Park, Illinois, and finally back to Sandusky Avenue Christian Church where they remained members for the rest of their lives. Dorothy is remembered and loved by the many elementary age school children she volunteered to teach, as well as the many 2-year-olds (and their parents) she taught in pre-school over a period of at least 50 years.
The last four years she has been loved and cared for by the staffs at Burgundy Place Senior Living, Glenwood Skilled Nursing, and Oklahoma Memory Care Institute. The family would also like to thank the loving staff at Miller Hospice.
Funeral services will be held at Floral Haven Cemetery in the Rose Chapel on Monday, July 17, 2023.
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