James Eldon Johnson, Sr.

James Eldon "Shorty" Johnson, Sr. was born to James Monroe and Lillie Mae (Walker) Johnson on May 12, 1927, at Boggy Depot, OK and departed this life in Burkburnett, TX, on February 18, 2011, at the age of 83 years, 9 months and 6 days. Shorty grew up at Boggy Depot in Atoka County, moving to the Devol, OK, area at age 18. He married Joyce Inman on May 13, 1948, at Brownsville, TX and they made their home in the Randlett/Devol area until moving to California in 1957 where he worked at the Sunkist plant at Corona, CA. They returned to Randlett in 1966. Through the years Shorty worked as a farmhand , was a truck driver and from 1981 to 1989 was a heavy equipment operator for Cotton County. He was a member of Church of Christ in Randlett. He enjoyed hunting, fishing and gardening. Shorty was preceded in death by his parents; an infant son, Sammy Monroe Johnson on September 25, 1949; 2 brothers, Tommy and Leonard; 4 sisters, Myrtle, Ellen, Pearlie and Allie. Survivors include his wife, Joyce, of the home; 4 sons and their wives, Hank and Barbara Johnson of Ft. Worth, Jim and Debbie Johnson, Joe and Suzie Johnson, Tom and Dianna Johnson all of Randlett; 6 daughters and their husbands, Barbara and Wade Jackson of Burkburnett, Terry Johnson of Electra, Ruby Hjelte of Denton, Vickie and Johnny McMullen of Burkburnett, Kristy and James Mello of Pueblo, CO, Becky and Bill Davidson of Burkburnett; 28 grandchildren, 13 great grandchildren and 1 great-great grandson; other relatives and many friends.