Obituary of Shirley Elaine Johnson

Graveside services for Shirley Elaine Johnson, 82, of Overton will be held on Saturday, January 10, 2015 at 2:00 pm at the Garden Park Cemetery Mausoleum in Conroe, Texas with Mr. Tom Starnes officiating under the direction of Cottle-Pearson Funeral Home, Overton. Mrs. Johnson passed away on January 6, 2015 in Tyler. She was born on October 16, 1932 in Boling, Texas to the late Joseph Ponder White and the late Emma Rebecca Taylor. She worked as a meat wrapper for Gerlands, Krogers and Albertsons for over 40 years. She was a spirited woman who taught many life lessons to us all through tough love. She was like an old book, you have seen her many times, but only until you sat down and opened the pages, would you truly see the love and caring she had for so many people. She loved to have fun and get together with family and friends, especially the family reunions. She had a passion for fishing and would rarely turn down a chance to go. And when she went, she would show you how it is done! The memory and spirit of her will always be as beautiful as the description she would tell about her trip to Kauai and its tropical paradise. She was preceded in death by her parents; Joseph Ponder and Emma Rebecca White; two sons, John Curtis Johnson Jr and David Bryan Johnson; four sisters, Dorothy Hodge, Marie Grimes, Emma Joyce Besch, and Billy Joe Hewer; and one brother, Joseph White Jr. She is survived by two daughters Elaine Grier and Della Smith and husband Bob; two brothers, John ‘Dub’ White and Clinton White and wife Sharon; five Grandchildren; fifteen Great-Grandchildren; and one Great Great-Grandson; and numerous nieces and nephews. Visitation will be held an hour prior to the service at the Garden Park Cemetery Mausoleum. Online condolences can be made at cottlefuneralhome.com.