Linda Ann Johnson

Linda Ann Johnson, 85, of Lampasas, passed away Monday, January 23, 2023, at her home in Lampasas surrounded by her loving family.

Services will be held at First Baptist Church Lampasas on Friday, January 27, 2023, at 11 am with a visitation an hour prior.  Interment will follow at Oak Hill Cemetery in Lampasas. 

Tuesday, January 24, 2023.

Today we started our first day on this Earth without the constant encouragement, love, prayers, unwavering confidence, and endless support of our amazing Mother, Linda Ann Haynes Johnson.

Mom was deeply loved by a vast set of friends and family.  With this obituary, we (her children) can only hope to relate a modest sample of the loving gifts Mom gave us all throughout her earthly story.

Mom met Rex Johnson in 1958, in Grandview, Missouri, near Kansas City.  Mom was completing her practice teaching for her bachelor's degree in education at Central Missouri State University - and staying the semester with our "Granny & Grandpa", Sue and Max Haynes.  Dad was a pilot and engineer in the US Air Force and stationed at Richards-Gebaur Air Force Base.  Dad found himself unprepared for his first Missouri snowstorm, so he rushed to the PX for a suitable coat.  Granny was working in the Men's Uniforms department of the PX and struck up a friendship with Dad.

Mom was in fact, already engaged to another man, but Granny just knew right away that Dad was a far better match for Mom.  Turns out, Granny was right.  Mom married Dad on April 11, 1959, at Olean Baptist Church in Olean, Missouri.  During their exemplary 63 years of marriage, Mom's heart always fluttered whenever Dad entered a room until it stopped yesterday.

Soon after marrying, in September 1959, Mom and Dad moved to Lampasas, Texas.  While he was working as an engineer for the Air Force, Dad had befriended a Lampasas builder named Robert L. Guyler.  Mr. Guyler saw great potential in Dad and invited him to move to Lampasas and work for Guyler Construction.  Thanks to the keen hospitality of Mrs. Guyler and the Guyler daughters, along with many kind "Lampasans", and the great people that Dad worked with at the Guyler Company, Mom quickly became a passionate, naturalized Texan and began planting her roots in Lampasas.  She enjoyed the Texan ways and found humor in quirks of all things Texas.  However, you could say Mom was a "dual citizen" splitting her love between Texas and her state of origin.  Mom often spoke of and frequently visited her beloved Missouri (pronounced by her, "Mizz-ooou-ruh).  We, her children are all grateful to be 1st generation Texans but with the charm, faith, resilience, and wisdom that Mom's Missouri family instilled in her, and by her, in all of us.

Dad's work for Mr. Guyler meant that Mom had to move households frequently.  As a result, Mom delivered each of her four children in different Texas cities.  Daniel Kenneth was born in Wichita Falls in 1960, Gregory Haynes in El Paso in 1962, David Maxwell in San Antonio in 1966, and finally Rexann in Lampasas (technically, Austin) in 1977.  After taking temporary residence in so many different cities, Mom and Dad were always happy to return to Lampasas.  In 1973, they came back for good.

Mom dealt with breast cancer in the late 2000s.  During that time, we all held our breath and prayed.  After a lumpectomy and some radiation, we were jubilant when the doctors assured Mom that she'd been cured.  When mom got word in July 2019 that the cancer had returned (this time in her bones), Mom's bravery and faith never faltered.  Her calm resolve to do whatever the doctors advised was all that kept the rest of us from crumbling.

Since 2019, Mom bravely endured biopsies, countless oncology visits, counseling sessions, blood draws, injections, MRIs, CT scans, and body scans.  During the pandemic, Mom never complained when she had to isolate more vigilantly than most.  Always a pillar of strength, Mom was incredibly upbeat and found joy and distraction by focusing on each of our lives - encouraging us thru whatever relevantly minor (and some not-so-minor) crises we faced.  She was our "True North" thru it all.

The cancer treatments seemed to work well for Mom until this past Summer.  The oncologist offered Mom other options, but each had extreme side effects.  So, Mom decided to maximize the quality of her time left, over all else.  In true "Linda Johnson" form, she was in complete control until her very last breath.

This past Friday we celebrated Mom's 85th birthday, two days early.  We wanted to make sure Mom could enjoy it.  Mom was thrilled to have all of us, our spouses, her grandchildren, and her great-grandchildren around her singing and laughing.  Mom had her favorite cake from her favorite Austin-area Italian restaurant she'd been talking about for weeks.  Mom especially loved seeing a photo of the windmill she'd requested  - newly installed behind the house by Dan and Adam Morrison (Rexann's husband).  At that point, Mom wasn't able to step outside to enjoy the sight of the 40' machine.  Still, we're tearfully rejoicing she's no longer in pain and that the gently spinning turbine will from now on remind us of our newly-winged, beautiful, and fiercely protective guardian angel.

We will always love you, Mom.  And don't worry, we'll take great care of Dad.

Dan Johnson, Jane Jeffries, Jessica Johnson, Adam Johnson, Wyatt Johnson, and Kenzie Johnson

Greg Johnson and Zach Hess

Max Johnson, Cori Johnson, Ian Johnson, and Connor Johnson

Rexann Morrison, Adam Morrison, and Brock Morrison

Linda Ann Haynes Johnson is survived by her loving husband of 63 years, Rex Kenneth Johnson.  Also surviving her is her dear brother John Haynes and his wife Bronda, their two daughters, and their families.

Linda's passion project of the last decade has been the Cooper Spring Nature Park, created when she and Dad donated 18 acres to the city.  For those that choose, Mom requested that donations be made to the park in lieu of flowers.

Cooper Spring Nature Park, Attn: Robin Gruen, 2058 CR 2060, Lampasas, TX, 76550.

The family would like to deeply thank the wonderful caregivers that our Mom loved.  These include Tina Van Hook, Jacqui Collins, and Denise Momberg of Elderly Care by Debbie (Lampasas); Kayla Wagner and Dr. Robin Gruen of New Century Hospice (Lampasas); and Dr. Ojas Vyas and staff of Baylor Scott & White Health (Round Rock)