Archives for June 2004

Smiley Eugene Johnson, 69, died May 28, 2004.

Smiley was born the son of Harper Stewart “Major” and Bess Graham Johnson September 20, 1934, at State College, MS.  He graduated from Starkville High and Miss. State College. He married Floyce Jane Shaw on August 4, 1956, at College Hill near Oxford, MS.

He was a pilot and photo interpreter in the US Air Force and then graduated from Louisville Presbyterian Theological Seminary, Kentucky.  He served as mobile minister and pastor at Reserve, Glenwood, Apache Creek, Datil, and Quemado, NM.  He was director of Geneva Conference Center for the Synod of Indiana at Rochester, IN, a civil engineer technician in Indianapolis, then pastor at Canadian, TX.  He was a landman and pilot for George Arrington Oil, pilot for King Drilling, operated the Hemphill County Airport, flight instructor, EMT intermediary, and retired from America West Airlines as Captain. 

He served as pastor at Clarendon and was honorably retired from the Presbyterian Church (USA) in 2001.

While in Clarendon, Smiley served on the Board of Aldermen and spent many hours working to improve the city’s airport, which in April was renamed the Smiley Johnson Municipal Airport in his honor.

Survivors include his wife, Jane; children, Janet Cullender, her husband, Jeff, and their children, Patricia and Joey; Steve Johnson, his wife, Lisa, and their children, Austin, Lacey, Jet, and Emma; Edward Johnson, his wife, Renee, and their children, Ashley, Erica, Amber Ford, her husband, Chris, and son, Taylor; Pam Flowers, her husband, Charlie, and son, Rhett; Bruce Johnson, his wife, Lori, and their children, Brock and Mae, all of Canadian; Harper Johnson and his wife, Cindy, of Flagstaff, AZ; a brother, H.S. “Buddy” Johnson, of Weatherford, TX; and two sisters, Ollie Gannaway of Louisville, KY, and Anne McWhorter of Starkville, MS.

A service of thanksgiving for his life was held at the First Presbyterian Church of Canadian with the Rev. John Duncan leading the worship. 

A memorial service is also scheduled to be held at the Presbyterian Church in Clarendon next Tuesday, June 8, at 6 p.m.

The family suggests memorials be made to the First Presbyterian Church, Box 1122, Canadian, TX 79014 or First Presbyterian Church, Box 217, Clarendon, TX 79226, or to Hemphill County Hospice, 1020 South 4th, Canadian, TX.

Graveside services for Mildred Doris Fontenot, age 77, were held at 1:00 p.m. on Saturday, May 29, 2004, in Rowe Cemetery in Hedley with Bright Newhouse, Minister of the Hedley Church of Christ, officiating.  Arrangements were under the direction of Robertson Funeral Directors, Inc., of Clarendon.

Mrs. Fontenot died Thursday, May 27, 2004, in Memphis, Texas.  She was born April 12, 1927, in Roosevelt County, New Mexico, and was a resident of Amarillo before moving to Hedley more than 20 years ago.  She was a restaurant owner/operator for several years and had worked for the City of Hedley and for the Hedley Senior Citizens Association before her retirement.

Survivors include a son, Johnny Lund of Hedley; two sisters, Lois Watson and Wanda Coots, both of Amarillo; five grandchildren; and eight great grandchildren.