Gary Samuel Johnson watched the sunrise with Jesus as he was escorted into Heaven on April 23, 2024.

Gary was born on August 15, 1941, to Ethel M. and Robert Ray Johnson in Gainsville, Texas. Gary spent his childhood and schooldays there, finishing at the Adventist School in Keen, Texas. Gary joined the Marine Corps where he served as an aviation electronics man and afterwards served in the reserves.

Gary married Virginia Mixon Dale on July 1, 1961.

The oil field industry brought them to Midland, Texas where Gary worked as a draftsman for Standard Oil, Texaco, El Paso Products and French Tool.

He and Virginia enjoyed square dancing and were members of the Sash-A-Way Square Dance Club where they made lifelong friends and attended festivals all over the state. They also loved weekends at their little retreat in Ruidoso, New Mexico.

Gary was a talented artist and did many portraits of family and friends, but his true passion was doing Westerns of days gone by. He was also commissioned to do some paintings of his hometown circa 1900s. Many of these works can be seen in various businesses and homes in Gainsville. Gary used his talent once again to etch beautiful pictures on headstones to add personal memorials of those who have passed on, bringing comfort to friends and family visiting their loved ones final resting places. These headstones can be found in cemeteries in Pottsboro and various others in the area.

Gary loved the outdoors and spent his spare time hunting arrow heads and built up a nice collection. He also loved to dig for treasure with his metal detector. He was one with nature and this earned Gary the title Animal Whisperer. Small animals learned to trust him enough to eat from his hands. He adopted even more animals when he moved back closer to his roots. The wooded area on Lake Texoma in Pottsboro is where he took in skunks, racoons, and opossums. At one time, he had a flock of ducks that would waddle out of the lake daily to find the feed he would leave for them in his driveway.

Gary never met a stranger or if he did, they were fast friends by the end of the meeting. He was fortunate to find his perfect companion in Marlene Parnell. They enjoyed their special time together until her passing. Gary spent his last few years at his home and with friends from the American Legion. He loved to sit on his front porch waving at everyone who passed by.

Gary is proceeded in death by his parents, his wife Virginia and his beloved companion Marlene. He is survived by his daughter Garilynn Thomason and husband Richard of Midland, Texas, Susan Barnes of Pottsboro, Texas. Grandchildren Adrian Pierce of Glenrose, Texas, Cori Branton and husband Dave of Caton, Texas, Hannah Psencik and husband Chase of Midland, Texas, Sam Smith of Midland, Texas, Jess Thomason and wife Lexee of New York, New York. Great grandchildren Savannah, Sydni, Shelbe Branton, Jake, Hugh, and Gus Pierce, Kirby Smith, Levi Blue, Harrison and Crawford Psencik.

A memorial will be held at the American Legion Post 231 Lake Texoma 133 Army Lane Pottsboro, Texas on June 15th at 2:00 PM.

Mizpah Genesis 31:48-50