Willie Johnson Jr.

Willie Johnson Jr was born January 28, 1934, in Frenchman Bayou, Arkansas to Willie Johnson and Luerilla (Brooks) Johnson. He grew up in Hayti, Missouri. He left home at the age of 15 to pursue work to send money home to his family.

Willie moved to Kansas City, Missouri, where he met Helen Y. Rogers. They married April 27, 1953. To this Union four children were born. They were married 68 years. Early in their marriage Willie worked at Phillips 66 in Fairway, Kansas. He then worked at Valspar paint company for 30 years before retiring. Then, not ready to sit down, he worked at JCPenney in North Kansas City, Missouri.

He was involved in benevolence as a member of the Jive Turkey Bowling League. He loved detailing cars, bowling, watching the KC Royals, listening to the Blues, and going on bowling trips to Omaha, Springfield, and Oklahoma. Willie loved a manicured yard that he cared for just like he did his cars.

He loved spending time with his family where he enjoyed telling old stories to his grandkids making them laugh. He had his special friends, Super, Lozo and JoAnn.

Willie passed at KU Medical Center at the age of 90. He was preceded in death by his parents, Willie and Luerilla Johnson, his loving wife Helen Johnson, 2 brothers, Robert Lee and Johnny B, a sister Omelia Cannon, and son in law Carlton Johnson.

He leaves to cherish his memory, his children, Margaret Bell, Alfred Johnson (Rosalyn), Sylvia Johnson and Miranda Marshall; brothers Bunny Johnson (Ruthie), James Johnson (Brenda), and Lonnie Johnson (Debra); sisters Lula Mae Johnson, Octavia Sutton (Ed), Mary Smith (Willie), Ethel Jean, and Annie Lee; 8 grandchildren; 9 great grandchildren; and a host of family and friends.