Bettye Fern Johnson

On March 6th, 2021, Mrs. Fern Johnson went home to be with the Lord. A celebration of her life will be held at 12 noon Thursday in the Pavilion at the Merriman Baptist Church, Ranger, TX. There will be no visitation or viewing per Fern’s request.
Bettye Fern Johnson was born December 18, 1933 in Brady, TX to Aubrey Louis and LaRuth Jordan Shafer. Fern was an only child growing up but had numerous cousins who lived nearby. As a young teen, her family moved to Eastland where she attended High School and later attended Hardin Simmons University where she received an associate’s degree. She married Freddie Johnson in Mingus, TX on December 15, 1972.
Fern was a self-professed terrible cook, but could fry eggs, sausage, and make skillet gravy and biscuits with ease. She was extremely active in church where she taught Sunday School, played the organ and sang during services at East Side Baptist Church in Ranger for many years.
She worked as a bookkeeper for Victor Cornelius in Eastland for 30 + years. Fern was an avid bowler, often traveling to bowling tournaments with her league friends. She also enjoyed square dancing and was a member of the Eastland County Spinners. In her younger years she was a proficient tennis player and still enjoyed watching tennis matches on TV. In fact, Fern enjoyed all sports and had her TV set up to nearly all sports stations. She was a big Texas Ranger fan.
Fern was preceded in death by her loving husband, Freddie Herman Johnson. She in survived by her son Mikel Kendrick and wife Bonnie of Tyler, TX; daughter-in-law Helen D’Andrea and husband Al of Norwood, MA; step-son Freddie Johnson Jr. of Hawaii; step-son Curtis Lee Johnson and wife Cheryl of Madera, CA; step-daughter Anita Kay Johnson of Wisconsin; 10 grandchildren and numerous great-grandchildren.