(From Clark Funeral Home)After a long, joyful and fulfilling life, Lee Ann (Goade) Johnson passed away on July 1, 2025, at the age of 90. She and her twin brother, Jerome, were born June 2, 1935, to Allan and Zetta Goade at her Grandmother Baugh’s home on the outskirts of Granby, MO. She was the last surviving member of a fun-loving, noisy, fiercely supportive, and tightly connected family of eight.
Lee Ann grew up next door to and attended Granby Elementary and graduated from Granby High School with the close-knit Class of 1953.
In October of that same year, she married Billy Lee Johnson, also a ‘53 graduate, with whom she had shared church pews and schoolrooms since the first grade. Their three children feel blessed by their love for each other and having grown up in this family.
Lee Ann was known by many in the community as “the Bookmobile Lady.” From 1953 - 1987, she and Billly partnered in running the Neosho Newton County Library’s bookmobile, bringing books to schools and rural areas across Newton County. Their legacy was celebrated in the library’s December 2021 dedication of the Billy and Lee Ann Johnson Study Rooms.
Lee Ann was known by many in the community as “the Bookmobile Lady.” From 1953 - 1987, she and Billly partnered in running the Neosho Newton County Library’s bookmobile, bringing books to schools and rural areas across Newton County. Their legacy was celebrated in the library’s December 2021 dedication of the Billy and Lee Ann Johnson Study Rooms.
Billy worked as assistant librarian until his death in 1998, and Lee Ann remained with the library until her retirement in 2004, continuing to share her love of books and learning with generations of readers.
Lee Ann was also affectionately known as Annie, Aunt Ann, Mother, Mom, Mama, and Nana. She loved nothing more than spending time with her children and grandchildren, who all benefitted from her excellent seamstress, culinary, gardening, and “laundry queen” skills. Her nurturing spirit spilled over into her church and community, touching all who knew her. She had a gift for warmly welcoming others and letting them know they were important to her. Those who knew her were delighted by her creativity, sense of humor, and infectious laughter. She highly enjoyed singing – e.g., children’s songs to her grandchildren, while doing dishes, in the church choir, family duets and quartets, as well as listening to family’s instruments – pianos, fiddles, guitars, mandolin, and band/orchestra instruments that filled the air from all sides of the family. Lee Ann was a faithful member of Granby First Baptist Church since childhood, where she was a devoted children’s Sunday School teacher and choir member. In her senior years she was a member of Neosho First Baptist Church.
A lovely surprise came a few years after her husband Billy had passed away. She reconnected with a high school boyfriend, Clifford Dingman, and the two were married in 2003 in Kenai, AK. Clifford joined her to make a home in Neosho.
Upon her death, she was reunited with her parents, sisters Carolyn Beals and Kathy Skaggs, brothers Gene, Jerome, and Neil Goade, husband Billy Johnson and infant granddaughter Kinsey Hope Johnson.
Lee Ann was also affectionately known as Annie, Aunt Ann, Mother, Mom, Mama, and Nana. She loved nothing more than spending time with her children and grandchildren, who all benefitted from her excellent seamstress, culinary, gardening, and “laundry queen” skills. Her nurturing spirit spilled over into her church and community, touching all who knew her. She had a gift for warmly welcoming others and letting them know they were important to her. Those who knew her were delighted by her creativity, sense of humor, and infectious laughter. She highly enjoyed singing – e.g., children’s songs to her grandchildren, while doing dishes, in the church choir, family duets and quartets, as well as listening to family’s instruments – pianos, fiddles, guitars, mandolin, and band/orchestra instruments that filled the air from all sides of the family. Lee Ann was a faithful member of Granby First Baptist Church since childhood, where she was a devoted children’s Sunday School teacher and choir member. In her senior years she was a member of Neosho First Baptist Church.
A lovely surprise came a few years after her husband Billy had passed away. She reconnected with a high school boyfriend, Clifford Dingman, and the two were married in 2003 in Kenai, AK. Clifford joined her to make a home in Neosho.
Upon her death, she was reunited with her parents, sisters Carolyn Beals and Kathy Skaggs, brothers Gene, Jerome, and Neil Goade, husband Billy Johnson and infant granddaughter Kinsey Hope Johnson.
She is survived by her husband Clifford Dingman of Neosho, MO; her children: Mary Beth Deel and husband Bob of Fayetteville, AR; Allan Johnson and wife Martha of Boone, NC; and John Mark Johnson and wife Amanda of Stark City, MO. She is also survived by her grandchildren: Kelsi Johnson, Luke Johnson, Annie Johnson, Brandon Lloyd, Emily Johnson, and Tyler Lloyd; and many other relatives and friends.
A Celebration of Life will be held at 1:00 pm, Thursday, July 31, at Granby First Baptist Church, 205 S Main, Street, Granby, MO. Reception to follow.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to: Neosho Newton County Library, 201 W. Spring St., Neosho, MO 64850 or Oak Pointe of Neosho Senior Living, 2601 Oak Ridge Exn, Neosho, MO 64850.
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