Ethleen Mae Johnson

Ethleen Mae (Dunlap) Johnson peacefully passed away Sunday, April 28, 2019, at the golden age of 93. She was born November 4, 1925, in Throckmorton, Texas to Archie D. Dunlap and Lillie Mae Ingram, the eldest of twin girls.
Ethleen’s parents moved their family from Throckmorton to Gorman in 1940 when she was fifteen years old. She graduated from Gorman High School and briefly attended Ranger College. On June 23, 1946, she married Billy C. Johnson in Eastland, Texas after his return to the states following his service in the United States Army Airforce. In 1947, she began her life as a young and new mother to her son, Billy Joe Johnson. Soon to follow was the birth of her second son, Jimmy Charles Johnson in 1950, then daughter Kathy Lynn Johnson in 1958, and completing their family, daughter Karen Lea Johnson in 1962. Billy C.’s work relocated their family to west Texas for many years where both sons graduated from Odessa Permian High School. Billy C., looking forward to future retirement, purchased land just South of Eastland in 1962. He and Ethleen moved their family to Eastland in 1974, into the same home Ethleen lived in until her recent health decline in early 2019.
Over the years, Ethleen had many different occupations including owning and operating Eastland’s Mode O ’Day for fifteen years, and later retiring from Eastland Drug where she served in various capacities including Dale Squires’ pharmacy tech to deli lunch counter clerk for over twenty years. Whatever the job was, she was willing and ready to serve others. Ethleen was a selfless homemaker and caretaker for her family, her greatest joy in life.
Ethleen is a lifetime member of the Church of Christ, and the majority of her faithful church devotion has been spent with Daugherty Street Church of Christ, Eastland, with people she dearly loved. She was a steadfast and dedicated servant to God and her faith never wavered. She loved attending her Sunday School Class, serving in the Daugherty Church of Christ Care Group and Service Center, and faithfully attending church to sit in her longtime favorite pew. In her personal time, she was devoted to reading and studying God’s word. She was the greatest prayer warrior for all of her family and many friends. Ethleen also enjoyed working word search puzzles and was a wonderful cook. She and Billy loved hosting gatherings on their ranch for their family and friends where they could be outside fishing, hunting, riding ATVs, and making lasting memories with lifelong friends.
Ethleen is survived by her children, Billy Johnson and wife, Lou, Jimmy Johnson and wife, Sherry, and Karen Mangum and husband, Louis, all of Eastland; grandchildren, Luly Miller and fiancé, Scott Bliss, Frankie Delgado and wife, Valarie, Laurah Williams and husband, Jeremy, Billy Johnson and wife, Monica, Heather Fortune and fiancé, Bill Steele, Angela Anders and husband, Todd, Michael Mangum and wife, Megan, and Tyler Justice; great-grandchildren, Lauren Miller, Travis Delgado, Macie Delgado, Max Delgado, Sophie Delgado, Addison Williams, Savannah Johnson, Brady Johnson, Teagan Fortune, Hanna Fortune, Gage Fortune,
Rhett Anders and Baby Anders due in July; nieces, Mollie Brittain and husband, John, and Judy Pomroy and husband, Doug; numerous great-nephews and great-nieces; and other extended family.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Billy C. Johnson; daughter, Kathy Justice; parents, Archie and Lillie Dunlap, sister, Leota Taylor and husband, J.W.; twin sister, Kathleen Butler and husband, Don; great-grandchild, Darin Delgado.
The Johnson family will receive friends Tuesday, April 30, 2019, from 6-8:00 p.m. at Edward Funeral Home, Eastland. Funeral services celebrating Ethleen’s life will be held Wednesday, May 1, 2019, at 1 p.m. at Daugherty Church of Christ, Eastland, with Minister Larry Roberts officiating. Ethleen will be laid to rest in Eastland City Cemetery, beside her husband. Serving as pallbearers are Col. Frankie Delgado United States Marine Corps, Billy Johnson, Michael Mangum, Tyler Justice, Jeremy Williams, Bill Steele and Todd Anders. Honorary pallbearers and special friends include Dale Squires, James Fullen, Tracy Fullen, Jerry McCullough, Randy Butler, Tom Crowder, John Jammer, Darby McCreary, Brandon Orms, Nicky Gailey, Bobby Gailey, Johnny Mangum, Mike Montgomery, Bill Culverhouse, Brandon Byars, and her loving Daugherty Church of Christ family. The Johnson family wishes to thank The Woodlands Assisted Living Center staff as well as Kindred Care Hospice who so lovingly cared for Ethleen in her final days. Funeral services are in the care of Nowlin Anders Funeral Home, De Leon. If desired, memorial contributions may be made to Daugherty Church of Christ, in honor of Ethleen. Condolences may be offered online at www.nowlinandersfh.com or www.edwards-funeral-homes.com .