JOHNNIE DUANE JOHNSON

Johnnie Duane Johnson, 70, passed away December 21, 2015, following a brief battle with cancer. He was born January 30, 1945, to Jim and Lois (Hall) Johnson in Oldfield, MO.

Johnnie lived most of his life in Ava and graduated from Ava High School in 1962. Johnnie married Wanda (Price) Johnson November 25, 1964, and to this union four children were born.

Besides spending time with his family and friends, Johnnie loved to travel and talk with everyone he met. He and Wanda made many lifetime friends during their travels, and he never met a stranger. Following his retirement from United Parcel Service after twenty-nine years of service, Johnnie drove an activities bus at Ava R-1 Schools. He truly enjoyed visiting with the students, teachers and people at all the sports activities. He really looked forward to the monthly breakfast meetings with other UPS retirees. In the past few years, he enjoyed walking with his former Rawlings boss Don Haught and playing cards with friends.

Johnnie was preceded in death by his parents, Jim and Lois Johnson and his grandson, Brett Crewse.

Johnnie is survived by his wife, Wanda, their dog daughter, Cricket, three daughters JoWanda Johnson, Julie Taylor, and Jennie Johnson, a son James Johnson and his wife Tara, all of Ava, his grandchildren, Emily Crewse, Phoenix, AZ, Chase and Rachel Taylor, Hailey and Tyler Johnson, and Arizona Sallee all of Ava.

He is also survived by his siblings, Nyla Barter of Maize, KS, Andy Johnson and his wife Carolyn of Derby, KS, Amos Johnson and his wife Sue of Wichita, KS, James Johnson and his wife Frieda of Hayesville, KS, Jana LeBlanc and her husband Andrew of Nederland, TX, Kathryn Paxson of Sparta, MO, Steve Johnson and his wife Judy of Aldrich, MO, a host of nieces, nephews, cousins and many other family members.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Hall (Old Merritt) Cemetery or the Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation.

Visitation will be held Wednesday evening 5-7 p.m., and funeral services will be Thursday, Dec. 24, 2015 at 10 a.m. at Clinkingbeard Funeral Home, Ava, MO with burial following in the Ava Cemetery. Officiating will be Pastor Oren Alcorn.