Eugene ‘Gene’ Earl Johnson, 93
A visitation service for Eugene “Gene” Earl Johnson, 93, of Bourbon, is scheduled for noon to 2 p.m. today, Sept. 15, 2021, at the Sullivan Church of Christ in Sullivan. Following the visitation, a private family service with full military honors will be held at the Bourbon Cemetery, where he will be buried alongside his beloved wife and their infant son. Mr. Johnson died of congestive heart and kidney failure on Sept. 9 at the Cuba Manor in Cuba, Missouri.
He was born Feb. 6, 1928, in Hammond, the son of Tony Marvin and Maxine Grisham Johnson. Later, his family moved to Theodosia, where his father and uncle operated a general merchandise store. After leaving Theodosia, the Johnson family moved to Springfield and then to Van Buren, Arkansas. Gene started high school there, but his family then relocated to Gainesville, and he graduated from Gainesville High School in 1946. He always loved attending the school reunions and had hoped to attend his 75th reunion this year, but his ill health prevented it.
Upon graduating, Gene joined the Navy on April 3, 1946, with hopes of seeing the world, but when the Navy found out he could type, he was assigned to the personnel department and never set foot on a ship. He served 24 months and then returned to Gainesville. Next, he continued his education by attending a business school in Springfield.
In 1948, he married Geneva Pendergrass, and during the early years of their marriage, he worked at the Kerr Chevrolet dealership in Gainesville. In 1956, he and his father, Marvin Johnson, purchased the Bank of Bourbon and moved their families there.
Gene worked at the bank for 20 years and always enjoyed his customers and coworkers. He is remembered as being fair, honest, friendly and very generous. After retiring from the bank in 1976, Gene and Geneva relocated to Ozark County, where they had purchased Geneva’s old family farmstead. Gene spent the most enjoyable time of his life gardening, raising cattle and entertaining. He and Geneva were extremely hospitable to friends and family. Gene loved being a farmer.
In 1994, the Johnsons returned to Bourbon, where they remained until their deaths. Gene was a very spiritual person. He was a member of the Sullivan Church of Christ and attended faithfully, leading the singing as long as his health allowed.
Survivors include his three daughters, Cathy Fife, Connie Craft and husband Jerry, and Crystal Smith and husband Tom, all of Bourbon; one brother, Grover Johnson of Dixon; 10 grandchildren, Elizabeth Scott, Sarah Helton, Freddy Fife, Christopher Craft, Jonathan Fife, Matthew Smith, Rebecca Walker, Rachel Smith, Jesse Smith and Samuel Smith; 13 great-grandchildren, Andrew and Luke Scott, Carter and Payton Helton, Mitchell and Maris Craft and Kamryn Wideman, Casey and Savannah Walker, Maci, Alyiah, and Gavin Smith, and Calvin Smith; four brothers-in-law, Dale and Larry Pendergrass, J.D. Thompson, and Robert Hart; five sisters-in-law, Doroline Barnes, Ann Newton, Shirley Hart, Louise and Sandra Pendergrass; and one very special friend, Jim Smith.
Gene was preceded in death by his parents; his loving wife, Geneva, who died Sept. 10, 2020, just hours shy of one year from Gene’s death; one sister, Wilma Watson; an infant son, John Calvin; and a son-in-law, Fred Fife.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Bourbon Scholarship Fund in care of Mary Heywood, P.O. Box 747, Bourbon, MO 65441. Online condolences may be expressed at eatonfuneralhome.com.
Arrangements by Eaton Funeral Home, Sullivan.