Everett Johnson

Everett Byron Johnson, Sr, 81, went to his heavenly home June 7, 2021.  He was born July 30, 1939 in Idabel, OK to Ernest Reese Johnson and Viola Potts Johnson.

He attended school in Haworth and overcame great odds after his father died when he was 12, graduating from Haworth High School in 1958 while working 2-3 days a week to support his mother and sibling.  After graduation Everett joined the military where he proudly served his country for 4 years in the US Army during the Cuban Missile Crisis, being stationed in Berlin and later in Louisiana.  He married his high school sweetheart and soulmate Melba Collier on January 28, 1961.  Everett worked for 7 Eleven in Oklahoma City and then in the timber industry before joining Ford Motor Company in 1966.  He worked painting trucks in the Dallas Assembly plant, later moving to warehousing operating in Carrolton, Texas.  He retired from Ford after 30 years in 1996 and moved back to his childhood property where he would spend the last 25 years in retirement.  He was a member and served as a deacon at Oak Grove Missionary Baptist Church in Broken Bow, OK.  He was also a member of the Goodwater Masonic Lodge and the Scottish Rite.  Everett loved Gospel music and one of his greatest honors was to be elected President of the Oklahoma State Singing Convention where he served from 2013 to 2019 until his failing health forced him to step down.  He was the only person from McCurtain County to ever serve as President.

He loved his Lord and Savior Jesus and always admonished everyone to make sure they knew Him and where they would spend eternity.  He was a Godly example of a husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather and was highly respected by all who knew him.  He was not a perfect man but he truly lived his life so that the preacher would not have to lie at his funeral.  He loved raising horses and cattle and took great pleasure in passing this passion down to his children and grandchildren.

Everett leaves to cherish his memory his wife of 60 years, Melba, sons Everett Jr. (Rhett) and wife Rhonda of Whitesboro, TX and Glenn Michael of Idabel. He also left behind 4 granddaughters and their families- Ashley Johnson and Cedric Rains of Idabel, Brittany Pierce and husband Blake of Whitesboro, TX, Crystal Johnson and Logan Epperson of Dallas, TX and Rachel Johnson of Sherman, TX.  He had 3 great-grandsons of whom he was very proud – Haidon Mullens of Idabel, Jacob and Luke Pierce of Whitesboro, TX.  Extended family includes Brandon and Latisha Mullens of Idabel and their children Leslie, MacKenzie, Landon and Willow, sisters-in-law Martha Ausmus and Rita Bolen and their families.  There are so many in his Church family and in the Singing Convention that he counted as “family” and who he loved dearly.  He also had a cousin, Billy Wayne Johnson who was raised in his home as a brother. 

Everette was preceded in death by his parents.

Visitation will be at Clardy Funeral Service, Wednesday, June 9, 2021 from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m.

Graveside services will be held at the Denison Cemetery Pavilion in Idabel on Thursday, June 10, 2021 at 1:00 p.m.

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