Obituary of Mike Johnson

The life of Michael Tucker Johnson will be celebrated at 11:00 am, Wednesday, January 2, 2008 at the First United Methodist Church, Troup with the Reverends Jon Stouffer and Mike Cline officiating. Burial will be in the Pinecrest Cemetery, Troup under the direction of Cottle Funeral Home, Troup. Mr. Johnson died Sunday, December 30, at his home near Troup from complications of heart disease and lung cancer. Mike was born September 23, 1937 at Mother Frances Hospital in Tyler to the late Claude L. and Mary Tucker Johnson. "Hoover" as he was nicknamed, was a 1956 graduate of Troup High School where he excelled in football and basketball, being named to the Honorable Mention All-State team in both sports. He was a captain of the football team in both his junior and senior years. Mike graduated from the University of Houston School of Pharmacy in 1961 and returned to Troup where he and his wife Wanda operated Johnson-Tucker Pharmacy until 1997 at which time they sold the pharmacy. He worked as a pharmacist for Brookshire Brothers in Jacksonville until his retirement in 2006. Mike was a member of the First Baptist Church, Troup, the Troup Rotary Club, the Troup Genealogy Association, the Troup Alumni Association, the American Quarter Horse Association, Dixie Masonic Lodge #272, Troup and the Troup Industrial Foundation. He was named the 1973 Troup Citizen of the Year by both the Troup Rotary Club and the Troup Chamber of Commerce. He married Wanda Jean Thompson January 24, 1959 and they traveled extensively throughout the United States and Europe. They owned and raised quarter horses. Mike was a noted historian of Troup's early days and was known for his riveting stories of yesteryear. He could entertain an audience with his guitar playing and singing the songs he loved; particularly gospel songs sung by The Chuckwagon Gang. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by an infant son, Tommy. He is survived by his devoted and loving wife of 48 years, Wanda Johnson; son and daughter-in-law, Johnny and Melanie Johnson; and grandchildren Jake Johnson and Jenna Johnson, all of Troup. He is also survived by his extended family, Roberto and Anna Salinas and their children, Rita, Simon, Susie, Wanda, and Mary. Pallbearers will be John W. Tucker, Gene Cuvelier, Jerry G. Lacy, Brandon Johnston, Dan Norman, Roberto Salinas, Simon Salinas, and Parker Cuvelier. Honorary Pallbearers will be his classmates of the Troup High School Class of 1956 and his lifelong friends Melvin Lacy, Billy Slaughter and Kenneth Cuvelier. The Family will receive friends at the funeral home from 6:00 pm until 8:00 pm, Tuesday, January 1, 2008. Memorials, if desired, may be made to the Troup Education Foundation, Post Office Box 125, Troup, Tx 75789.