Jimmie Johnston

(From Parker Mortuary)

James S. 'Jimmie' Johnston, Sr., age 83, Webb City, passed away at 5:45 p.m. Monday, March 21, 2016 at Freeman West Hospital.

Jimmie was born January 21, 1933 in Mandeville, Louisiana to the late Frank B. Johnston and Virginia Slayton Johnston and had lived in the Joplin area since 1960, moving from Alabama.

He graduated from Auburn University where he was a member of the Kappa Alpha Fraternity and the Arnold Air Force Society. Jimmie began his career at Atlas Powder company, now known as I.C.I., as an industrial engineer, worked as a safety program manager and retired as an explosives engineer in 1995 after 36 years of service.

Jimmie actively supported the Joplin Sheltered Workshops and was an avid reader; history buff (Civil War era); troop leader with the cub scouts; softball player in several adult Joplin leagues and a huge supporter of the Auburn Tiger athletic department.

Jimmie was a humorist and a story teller. He was a faithful member of the First Presbyterian Church and a veteran of the United States Air Force.

He married Juanita Flowers in 1958 in Thomaston, Alabama. She survives at the home.

Additional survivors include two sons, James Johnston, Jr. and his wife, Mary, Tulsa, Oklahoma, Andrew Johnston and his wife, Kerry, Baltimore, Maryland; and four grandchildren, Alexandra, Trey, Drew and Maggie.

Memorial services are planned for Friday at 11:00 a.m. at the First Presbyterian Church. Rev. Dave Burgess will officiate. The family will receive friends following the services in John Knox Hall.

Cremation arrangements are under the direction of Parker Mortuary.