Raymond Thomas Johnson's Obituary
Chief Warrant Officer (W3) Raymond T. “Papa” Johnson
September 10, 1932 – May 30, 2025
A life of service, devotion, and everlasting love.
Chief Warrant Officer (W3) Raymond T. Johnson reunited with his soulmate on May 30, 2025. Ray entered the world three months before Harlene Joyce “Keke” Johnson—and departed just behind her, as if to make sure she had a soft landing in heaven before joining her there. She passed just three days earlier, on May 27, 2025. Their love was enduring, inseparable, extraordinary, and pure.
Born on September 10, 1932, in Eustace, Texas, to Alfred Johnson and Bethel Thornburg, Raymond was raised in Sasakwa, Oklahoma, and grounded from an early age in the values of humility, faith, and hard work. He was one of four sons, growing up alongside his cherished brothers—Harold Johnson, Leonard Johnson, and James Johnson—with whom he shared an unbreakable bond and a foundation of loyalty and brotherhood.
Raymond answered the call to serve his country and did so with honor for 44 years. His military journey began in 1948 with the Oklahoma National Guard. From 1951 to 1953, he served as an enlisted airman in the U.S. Air Force, followed by four years in the Air Force Control Group (IRR). In 1974, he enlisted in the Army National Guard, transitioning to a Warrant Officer role in 1975. From 1981 until his retirement in 1992, he served as a Warrant Officer in the U.S. Army Reserve.
Ray retired on his 60th birthday, September 10, 1992, as a Chief Warrant Officer (W3)—and held the distinct honor of being the oldest living Chief Warrant Officer at the time of his passing. His military career was marked by discipline, leadership, and quiet heroism. In recognition of his decades of honorable service, he was awarded the Certificate of Retirement from the Armed Forces of the United States—an enduring emblem of a life devoted to duty.
Yet perhaps the most defining chapter of Ray’s life began when he met the love of his life, Joyce, at Tulsa’s House of Blue Lights. They married on October 9, 1964, and danced through life together in perfect step—laughing, traveling, volunteering, and raising a family built on truly unconditional love. Their partnership was not just a marriage, but a daily expression of deep friendship and steadfast commitment. They co-owned JR&K Plastics, known to some as “Kelly B’s Plastics,” and poured their heart into every shared endeavor…together.
Ray was known as a master craftsman, a gifted woodworker whose hands built toys, shelves, theatre sets, and memories. Whether it was constructing props for his grandson’s school productions or creating one-of-a-kind pieces for charity auctions, his handiwork left a lasting mark. He gave his time generously as a Kiwanis member and as an airport ambassador at Tulsa International Airport, where his quiet smile and gentlemanly demeanor left travelers feeling welcomed and at ease.
He adored square dancing with Keke, whether at local clubs or on cruise ships around the world. Together they danced, laughed, and built a life of joy-filled service and memory-making adventures — many with his grandson, Kelly. He often joked and smiled, but his heart was always steady and full.
Raymond was the proud father of Jordana Rae Freisen, Lisa Gaye Johnson, and Cory Leone Johnson, and the devoted adoptive father to Kimberly Kaye Johnson, whom he loved and cherished deeply. But perhaps the role he was proudest of was being “Papa” to his grandson, Kelly B. Forbes. Just like with Keke, he couldn’t quite say “grandpa” and it came out “Papa” instead — a name that almost everyone knew him by. There was no “Papa” without “Keke”.
Alongside Keke, Raymond helped raise Kelly with unwavering love, steady support, and loud sideline cheers—always there with a hammer, a high five, or heartfelt wisdom — even teaching him something new on their last day together.
Raymond’s life was defined by loyalty—to his country, to his family, to his friends, and to the woman he called his true soulmate. In a world that often changes with the wind, Raymond stood firm: a man of conviction, kindness, and quiet strength.
His passing leaves a tender void, but also a glowing legacy. The kind of legacy built not on grand gestures, but on faithful service, shared laughter, enduring love, and handmade memories. He was the kind of man who didn’t just build things—he built lives, futures, and a home that always had room for one more.
As we say goodbye, we celebrate the beauty of a love story that spanned this lifetime and carries on into the next. Papa and Keke—forever dancing, forever side-by-side…as they should be. We love you, Papa!
In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to a charity of your choice in memory of Chief Warrant Officer (W3) Raymond T. Johnson, a gentleman, a soldier, and a beloved partner whose legacy lives on in all who had the blessing to know him.
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