Wayne Johnson

(From Ozark Funeral Home)

Mr. Norman Wayne Johnson 87, of Noel, Missouri, passed away Monday December 30, 2019, at the McDonald County Living Center in Anderson, Missouri.

Wayne (oldest of 15 children) was born on April 29, 1932, to the late Frank and Blanche (Rowe) Johnson in Noel, Missouri. He graduated from the Noel School in 1950 and was drafted in the Army and served our country in the Korean War.

 After returning from Korea, Wayne pursued his passion of farming. Wayne married a neighbor gal, named Becky Brown, on December 1, 1957, and together they rented a farm down in the valley on Mill Creek Road and started a dairy. 

After a few years Wayne and Becky moved the herd and kids (2 at the time) a few miles around the bend to Deer Creek Road and they have been there ever since. The couple milked cows for 40 plus years before hanging up the milk Buckets and just running beef cows. 

Wayne was a Christian man, serving as deacon, moderator, member and song leader at the Mill Creek Baptist Church near Noel. His hobby was working! He loved to work and in that work was his love of running a chain saw. He carried one in his truck at all times and had a couple in the barn on standby! In his younger years he enjoyed riding horses and pitching horseshoes.

He was preceded in death by his parents; his son, Andy Johnson; six siblings, brother Jack Johnson, sister Joy Evans, infant twins Carl and Carol, infant brother Rex Gerald and infant sister Vickie Jean.

Wayne is survived by his wife of 62 years Becky (Brown) Johnson and two daughters, Karen Gardner, of Jane, Missouri, and Amy Rice, and husband D.J., of Joplin, Missouri. Grandchildren Jami Spurling (John), Clinton Gardner (Jessica) and Lindsey Pharr (Beau); great-granddaughter, Avery; brothers, Joe Johnson (Della) and Danny Johnson (Susan); six sisters, Wanda June Long (Joel), Sandy Burke (Jim), Darlene Coyan, Dorothy Spencer, Janice Moss, and Debbie Morrison; Aunt Wanda Webb, several nieces, nephews and cousins that will dearly miss him.

Funeral services for Mr. Wayne Johnson will be held 2:00 p.m. Friday, January 3, 2020, in the Millcreek Baptist Church East of Noel, Missouri, with Pastors Mark Hall and Max Deaton officiating. Burial will follow in the G.A.R. Cemetery in Sulphur Springs, Arkansas. The family will receive friends from 6:00-8:00 p.m. Thursday, January 2, 2020, in the Ozark Funeral Home in Anderson, Missouri. In Lieu of flowers the family asks that donations be made to the American Legion Post in Pineville, Missouri. Arrangements are under the direction of the Ozark Funeral Home in Anderson, Missouri.