Obituary for Richard Johnson

Richard “Rich” Louis Johnson

January 20, 1953 – January 7, 2019

Richard Louis “Rich” Johnson of Tonkawa, Oklahoma, passed away early Monday morning, January 7, 2019, in the Perry Memorial Hospital at the age of 65 years.

Rich Johnson was born on January 20, 1953, in Concordia, Kansas, to Floyd William and Gerna Maurine (Kelly) Johnson. He grew up in Concordia and attended Concordia Public Schools. Following his education he moved to Emporia, Kansas, and began working for Brown’s Shoe Store and later The Carpet Store. In 1976 the family moved to Ponca City and he began working for Simmons Lumber Company. On December 4, 1982, he married Pamela Jayne Hiedeman in Ponca City and they moved to Blackwell where he began working as the manager for Starr Lumber Company. In 2007 they moved to Tonkawa to make their home and he continued to manage the lumber company. He attended the First Free Will Baptist Church in Blackwell and served as a board member on the Top of Oklahoma Historical Society Museum and the Little League Baseball Board. He loved his old cars and enjoyed attending various car shows.

He is survived by his wife, Pam Johnson of Tonkawa; two daughters, Julie Hickman and husband Brendan of Fort Collins, Colorado, and Kari Scott and husband Glenn of Tonkawa; three sons, Jason Johnson and wife Jennifer of Ponca City, Kevin Johnson, and Kyle Johnson and his wife Jessica of Glenpool; a sister, Carolyn Zoemisch and husband Mike of Red Bluff, California; two sisters-in-law, Shirley Johnson of Topeka, Kansas, and Donna Johnson of Dodge City, Kansas; and eight grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his parents; and two brothers, Floyd Johnson Jr. and James Johnson.

Services are scheduled for 2:00 p.m., Friday, January 11th in the First Free Will Baptist Church in Blackwell with Rev. Kevin Bookout officiating. Burial will follow in the Blackwell Cemetery.

Casketbearers will be Blake Scott, Levi Hobart, Rocky Mitchell, Tim Pitts, Scott Leiding and Rex Hiedeman.

Memorials have been established in his honor with the Top of Oklahoma Historical Society Museum and the First Free Will Baptist Church in c/o Roberts and Son Funeral Home, 120 W. Padon, Blackwell, Oklahoma 74631.

The family will greet visitors on Thursday evening, January 10th at the funeral home from 6:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.