Billy Ray Johnston

Billy Ray Johnston entered his Heavenly Home on November 1, 2022, at the age of 85.

Funeral Services will be 11:00 a.m. Friday, November 4, 2022, in Robertson Funeral Directors Saints’ Roost Chapel in Clarendon with Larry White, officiating. Burial will follow in Citizens Cemetery in Clarendon.

Arrangements are by Robertson Funeral Directors of Clarendon.

Pall bearers will be: Kirk Storseth, Brandon Hemphill, Talyn Kuster, Robert Messenger, Keith Mason, and Tim Williams.

Billy Ray was born in Naylor community near Clarendon on July 3, 1937, on the family farm to Walter and Inez Bridges Johnston. He grew up on the farm and graduated from Lelia Lake High School in 1956. Billy Ray attended Clarendon College while working at the Adair Hospital and Murphy Funeral Home. Billy Ray then attended Common Wealth College of Mortuary Science in Houston. Here he met the love of his life, Janice Marie Pratt. He and Janice married in Clarendon at the First Baptist Church on July 1, 1961. He was drafted into the service in November 1961. Two years later, he, Janice and newborn daughter returned from a stay in Germany. After a stint with the smelter in Amarillo, and two other daughters being born there, they returned to Clarendon.

While on the Board of Directors of Donley County Hospital District, the Board sent Billy Ray to Austin to obtain his nursing home administrator license. He was administrator in Clarendon for ten years, then took a job at Park Place Towers in Amarillo and subsequently was administrator at various facilities in the Texas Panhandle over the next 38 years. Billy Ray was a People Person, loving all he met while spreading God’s love as he was commanded.

Billy Ray and Janice maintained their home in Clarendon since 1967. Billy Ray never left Donley County. He loved the people here and always considered his acquaintances his personal friends and was ready to lend a helping hand. Billy Ray clearly loved his family and extended family. He always loved music including singing at Lelia Lake Baptist Church until graduation from High School. He moved his membership to First Baptist Church of Clarendon, where his membership still exists today.

Billy Ray was preceded in death by his parents, his wife of fifty years, Janice, and two brothers, Earnest Neal and Charles Kenneth.

Billy Ray is survived by his three daughters, Deborah Lynn (and Greg) Hemphill; Dyanne Marie Johnston and Mischelle Raynee (and Gary) Storseth; nine grandchildren and five great grandchildren and many friends.  He is also survived by his siblings Cleta Klepper; Redell Johnston and wife Sherol; Dan Foster and wife Molly; Gary Johnston and wife Paige; Pam Mason and sister-in-law Beth Johnston.   Every acquaintance had a personal place in his heart!

Memorials may be made to Clarendon Citizens Cemetery (PO Box 983; Clarendon, TX 79226) and / or Donley County Senior Citizens (PO Drawer B; Clarendon, TX 79226).

Sign the online guestbook at www.robertsonfuneral.com