Palestine High School Alumni Association

04 / 03 / 1925  –  06 / 05 / 2007

Mary Gene Johnson was born on April 3, 1925, and passed away on June 5, 2007 after a long and valiant battle with Parkinson’s disease. Gene was born and raised in Palestine and died peacefully at her home, located on the homestead where she was raised, surrounded by her loving family and dedicated caregivers.

On Jan. 21, 1945, Gene married Roy Johnson of Neches in Aberdeen, Md. Subsequently, the Johnsons moved to Texas City where they lived for 40 years before retiring to Palestine. While living in Texas City, Gene was an active member of First Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) where she worked as the church secretary while raising her three children. After seeing her children through elementary school, Gene worked for Amoco Gas Company for 16 years.

After retiring to Palestine in 1986, Gene enjoyed travel, her grandchildren and being an active member of First Christian Church, where she was an Elder Emeritus. After being diagnosed with Parkinson’s she maintained her life with dignity and never lost her sense of hospitality or the twinkle in her eye.

Gene was preceded in death by her husband of 61 years, Roy Johnson; along with her parents, three brothers and three sisters.

Survivors include three children, Patricia Clark and her husband Mike of Colleyville, Michael Johnson and his wife Mary Anne of League City and Kathy Casey and her husband Billy of Sugar Land; grandchildren, Jennifer Clark, Kevin Clark, Chad Casey and his wife Whitney, Lance Casey and Shelby Johnson.

The family would like to express its gratitude to all Gene’s caregivers over the past 11 years, especially her current caregivers, Mary, Ruth and Frankie.

She will be greatly missed by her friends, caregivers, and family, but they are rejoicing for this gentle soul has been freed from her earthly frailties and she has found peace.

Visitation will be from 6 to 8 p.m. Friday at Herrington/Land of Memory Funeral Home in Palestine. Services will be held at 3 p.m. Saturday at First Christian Church of Palestine with burial to follow at Land of Memory Cemetery. Honorary pallbearers will be Gene’s grandchildren and godson, Benjamin Nicholson.

For those desiring, Gene’s family would be honored if a donation was made in her memory to the National Parkinson Foundation (www.parkinson.org) or an organization of your choice.

Source: Palestine Herald-Press 06-07-2007