Bernice Johnson

Bernice D. Johnson was born on November 14, 1931, in Vian, Oklahoma, the fifth of eight children born to Sherman and Louisa Catlett. Her father proudly served as the Sequoyah County Sheriff for many years. From a young age, Bernice learned the value of hard work—picking cotton to help support her family and helping care for her elderly grandmother. But that never stopped her from playing hard, too. She had a natural talent for singing and dancing and enjoyed sports, often found playing baseball with the boys.

She had a deep love for the outdoors and especially enjoyed gardening and fishing—baiting her own hooks and cleaning the fish herself. Due to a severe hearing impairment from birth, Bernice was unable to continue her education beyond the ninth grade, as the public school system at the time did not provide adequate support. However, she overcame this obstacle by learning sign language and how to read lips. She once even left a teacher speechless by confidently reciting the alphabet backwards.

In her early teens, Bernice’s family moved to Clinton, Oklahoma, where her mother taught Sunday School at the Assembly of God Church for 14 years. Her parents’ deep faith and their nightly hour of family prayer left a lasting impression on Bernice and helped shape her own strong Christian walk.

At the age of 21, Bernice met a handsome U.S. military veteran and Purple Heart recipient, Robert Clarence Johnson. The two were married on June 5, 1953, in Amarillo, Texas, and settled in the Clinton area, where they were blessed with two sons: Bobby Dean (born 1954) and Steve Vaughn (born 1961).

In 1966, the family moved next door to the Canute Elementary School, making it convenient for Bernice to work as a substitute teacher and babysit for local schoolteachers. Bernice loved people. All it took was a hot cup of coffee and a good conversation to become a friend for life—because to Bernice, no one was ever a stranger.

She was a devoted wife, mother, and homemaker, and especially cherished the family camping trips they took to Colorado. In 2012, Bernice and Robert moved to Arapaho, Oklahoma, to live next door to their son Steve.

Bernice’s greatest love was for the Lord, Jesus Christ. On July 18, 2025, at 3:17 AM, she was peacefully carried to her eternal home at the age of 93. Her tender heart and twinkling blue eyes will be dearly missed by her family, friends, and the exceptional caregivers of the Agape Care Group Hospice, as well as the compassionate staff at River Valley Skilled Nursing Home, where she spent her final years.

Bernice was preceded in death by her parents, Sherman and Louisa Catlett; her husband, Robert C. Johnson; her son, Bobby Johnson; daughter-in-law, Judy Johnson; four brothers, Glenn, Elton, Jack, and John Catlett; and two sisters, Nona Deal and Iva Ringo.

She is survived by her son, Steve Johnson and his wife Donna; grandchildren: Misty Roberts, Bobby Jack Johnson and wife Danielle, Derek Johnson and companion Beronica Mason, Michael Johnson and wife Becky; step-grandchildren: Shekinah McGhee and husband Travis, Joshua Skinner and wife Dallyce, Joel Skinner, and Hannah Skinner; 17 great-grandchildren; 3 great-great-grandchildren; her sister, Lula Johnson; and numerous nieces and nephews.

A viewing will be held on Wednesday, July 23, 2025, from 9:00 AM to 11:00 AM, followed by a chapel funeral service at 11:00 AM at Lee Hometown Funeral Home Chapel, officiated by Chaplain Donna Johnson. Burial will follow at the Arapaho Cemetery under the direction of Lee Hometown Funeral Home of Clinton.