Royce Ray Johnson

Royce Ray (Poppie) Johnson passed from this life on Tuesday, May 13, 2025. He was the son of the late Louie and Grace Audry (Monday) Johnson. He was born in Amarillo, Texas on September 30, 1927.

He was the most beloved husband to Joyce Laverne (Caldwell). They were wed on April 22, 1947 and were blessed with a long and loving marriage of 74 years.

Royce attended Winnsboro schools. He served as an FCT 3/C in the US Navy stationed in San Pedro, CA. He was a jack of all trades, from selling pots and pans door to door, to selling automobiles before he found his true calling in the oilfield. He was employed by Transwestern/Enron out of Follett & Higgins, Texas as a Natural Gas Measurement foreman for forty years before retiring and returning back to Winnsboro in 1987.

He was on the Higgins High School Board where he proudly signed two of their three children’s diplomas. He was an active member of Sharon Baptist Church where he was a Sunday School teacher and an elder.

He is the loving father of two beloved sons and one daughter, Kennard Ray Johnson and his wife Deanna of Edmond, OK and Jeffery Keith Johnson and his wife Laura of Perryton, TX and Kimberly Lynn Garrison and her husband Kerry of Amarillo, Texas.

Royce was preceded in death by his parents, Louie & Grace Johnson, his loving & devoted wife, Joyce, his brothers, Jack Johnson, Larry Johnson, Jerry Johnson and granddaughter Jenna.

Royce’s grandchildren are Jennifer & Jeremy Griffin from Bridgeport, WV; Tasha & Nick Koumaris from Redondo Beach, CA; Jenna Russell; Kami Logan from Perryton, TX; Becca & Skyler Fronk from Canyon, TX; Allison & Dustin Chambers from Amarillo, TX, Shannon Miller from Booker, TX, Kristina & Dalton Rigdon from Lubbock, TX; Regan Watson from Lubbock, TX; Kelsey & LePatric Baylis from Amarillo, TX. Poppie has been blessed with seventeen great-grandchildren, Kaylin Kabus, Kylie Griffin, Wyatt Griffin, Everleigh Koumaris, Isla Koumaris, Kaleb Logan, Stryker, Slayden and Steele Fronk, Austin Parker, Andy Chambers, Victoria Cantu, Mason Sample, Lexi Miller, Keenan Cordova Maverick Rigdon, and Erynn Baylis and his four great-great grandchildren, Marlee & Liam Burbank, Jack and Kasper Kabus. He is also survived by Shirley & Sam Ramos, Sister-in-law & Brother-in-law of Broken Arrow, OK; Tammy Williams and her husband Jerry, Winnsboro, Texas, and a host of nieces and nephews, as well as other relatives and friends.

Funeral services will be held at 10:00 a.m., on Saturday, May 17, 2025 at Beaty Funeral Home, 816 W Broadway Street, Winnsboro, Texas. The burial will be in the Shady Grove Cemetery in Winnsboro, Texas with full military honors.

We can’t express our appreciation to his “sitters” – Marsette, Sarah, and Reba. You all hold a special place in Poppie’s heart, as well as ours.

In lieu of flowers please make donations to Texas Baptist Home for Children, P. O. Box 309, Waxahachie, Texas 75168 in memory of Royce Ray Johnson.

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