Obituary for Berenice Johnson

Berenice L. Johnson, longtime resident of Ponca City, passed April 13, 2015 at her home after a long and courageous battle with cancer. She was 72 years of age.

Berenice was born October 23, 1942 in Lamar, Colorado, the daughter of John Calvin Neal and Anna Carson (Lacy) Neal. Her early schooling was in Omaha, Nebraska and Ponca City. She was married to John David Johnson on August 29, 1960 in Perry, Oklahoma.

Berenice was a charter member of St. Luke’s Church of the Nazarene in Ponca City. Her many enjoyments included spending time with her grandson Brandon, traveling, reading, singing, taking pictures, garage sales, helping her son, Russell, with estate sales in Wichita, and was an avid Jeff Gordon fan.

She was an accomplished self-taught oil painter and winner of an International art competition in LaJolla, California, which included American and European artists. The couple had traveled in all but 9 states showing her art at various art shows. She was co-artist with Gene Dougherty of one of the Land Run paintings in the Ponca City Post Office.

She became a Red Cross volunteer in 2006 working both local, such as single family house fires, and national disasters such as Alabama Tornado and numerous hurricanes. Berenice was the 2011 volunteer of the year for the American Red Cross receiving the William Probes Award (Tulsa Chapter American Red Cross).

Berenice was a very compassionate person that loved her family very much. She was also an excellent cook and baker. She loved to continually crochet and made many crochet hats and clothing, donating them to Saint Jude’s, Alexander Burn Unit, Hillcrest Hospital, Tulsa, East Tennessee, Children’s Hospital in Knoxville, Tennessee and to LeBonheur Children’s Hospital in Memphis, Tennessee.

She is survived by her husband and soul-mate of 55 years, John, of the home; children Russell Sroufe of Wichita, Kansas, Elizabeth Ann Lambert and husband Gary, of Blackwell and Janiece Rhodes and husband Fred, of Ponca City; and her beloved dog Junie May; grandson Brandon Rhodes of Ponca City who loved spending time and conspiring with his Gagaw, Amber Rains of Blackwell and Stephen Chaney of Joplin, Missouri; eight grandchildren; brothers Roy Neal and his wife Joveda of Ponca City, and Dwight C. Neal and wife Martha, of Escondido, California; numerous nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents; one son, John David Johnson Jr. on October 22, 1989.

Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Thursday, April 16, 2015 at St. Luke’s Church of the Nazarene, 1715 East Prospect. Former pastor Dr. Don Stelting will preside over the service. Interment will follow in the Ponca City, I.O.O.F. Cemetery. Arrangements are under the direction of Grace Memorial Chapel. The family has requested no viewing but friends and family may pay their respects from 8 a.m. until 8 p.m. Wednesday and from 8 a.m. until noon on Thursday at Grace Memorial Chapel.

Casket bearers are Steve Eddy, Fred Rhodes, Michael Duran, Zack Duran, Lewis Johnson and Gerald Thomas.