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Rosemary Robertson Johnson has died at the age of 97 years. She recently said that she truly believed she lived in the very best years of America’s history – 1920 to 2017. She was born at the family home in Mineral Wells, Texas on March 20, 1920. She was the first child of Dora Beth Whatley Robertson and Angus Robertson, Jr. Her childhood was ideal and she told wonderful stories of playing with her two younger brothers, Donald and Rod. She played on a hill near their home in a cardboard box village, rode her bike to the lake, played checkers with her brothers and enjoyed going to school and playing with a large group of friends. She graduated Valedictorian from Mineral Wells High School and then went on to a business college where she learned secretarial skills and bookkeeping, knowledge she said she used for the rest of her life. She served as the Secretary to the Mayor of Mineral Wells and was also the official calendar girl for Crazy Mineral Water – her likeness is still on the label of the water which continues to be sold today.
She met her future husband, Carl Johan Sten Johnson, at the First Presbyterian Church in Mineral Wells. They wed on January 19, 1942 (When her husband passed away in 2004, they had been married for 62 truly happy years.) The family, which included three children, Joanna Carol, Janice Diane and Carl Eric, moved to Irving, Texas in 1953. She lived in the family home for 62 years, same address, and same phone number!
Rosemary worked in the office at Bowie Junior High School from the late 50’s to early 60’s and then became the church secretary at the First Presbyterian Church. She was always involved with her church, teaching young children in Sunday school for many years, even before she married. She is a member of the Daughters of the American Revolution and has a proud family history going back to the first days of this country. She led the “Stuff and Nonsense” sewing group for decades, creating thousands of stuffed animal toys that were then given to children in local hospitals. She also loved to sew on her red treadle Singer sewing machine that she owned even before she married, and to embroider tea towels for her children and friends as Christmas gifts – all cherished items. She had a love of gardening even as a small child and continued planting and growing flowers ever after she gave up vegetable gardening. She also journaled her entire life and was always detail oriented, never leaving too much to chance.
Rosemary Johnson was also involved with her husband’s interests such as the American Legion and Masonic Lodge. They were partners in life in every sense. They especially loved traveling and for many years were members of the Wally Byam Caravan Club. They traveled all over the United States in their Airstream trailer and they also traveled to distant countries – England, Scotland, Sweden, France, Germany and Canada. They both loved the planning as much as the actual trip. They were wonderful grandparents and made it a point to take each grandchild on a special RV trip with them. Their grandchildren include Kathleen Elizabeth Lunsford Byrd and Diane Renee Lunsford Donoho, daughters of Carol Johnson Lunsford and her husband Ray Lunsford. Andrew Brooks Reitz and Amy Allison Reitz are children of Jan Johnson (Reitz) Manos and Robert Rex Reitz. Carissa is the daughter of Carl Eric Johnson and Pam Bryant Johnson. Rosemary Johnson’s great grandchildren include Christopher, Cameron, Rebekah and Daniel Byrd, children of Kathleen and Rick Byrd. Alannah and Ireland Donoho are the children of Diane and Mark Donoho. Harper Hunt Reitz is the daughter of Amy Reitz and Tina Castillo. Twins Isla Alexandra and Riley Brooks Reitz are the children of Andrew and Jennifer Kopp Reitz. Grace Rosemary and Dylan James Boatwright are the children of Carissa Emily Johnson and Richard James Boatwright.
Rosemary Johnson was a wonderful mother to her children, Carol, Jan and Eric and to their spouses as well- Ray Price Lunsford, William King Manos and Deborah Robalin Johnson. Her kindness, her love of family and country, her faith, her generosity, humor and wisdom will always be remembered and cherished by the family she leaves behind.
The family will receive friends one hour prior to the funeral. The funeral service will be held at 2:00 pm on Monday, May 8, 2017 at Brown’s Memorial Funeral Home Chapel with Reverend Ken Branam officiating. Interment will follow the service at Oak Grove Memorial Gardens in Irving. The family asked that memorial donations be made to The Scottish Rite Hospital for Children at 2222 Welborn Street, Dallas, TX 75219 or www.txrch.org.

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