Transcribed Obituary for Okmulgee County, Oklahoma



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Transcribed & Submitted by: Shelley Lynch		

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Jerry D. Johnson, age 67, retired, died at home on Tuesday, 

June 14, 2005.

	

He was born on Monday, December 20, 1937 in 

Wayne, Oklahoma, to the late Claude and Dorthy Eula Johnson. 

He graduated High School at Wayne, Oklahoma. He earned 

Bachelor Degrees in Medical Technology (East Central University, 1960) 

and a degree in Hospital Administration (Oklahoma Baptist University, 1971). 

While working toward his BS Degree in Medical Technology at 

East Central State College, Ada (now East Central State University), 

he was employed at the Valley View Hospital. 

	

After serving a one year internship in medical technology at 

Valley View Hospital, Ada, Ok; Jerry served as a Laboratory 

and X-Ray Director of the Fulton Clinic in Ada for three years. 

One of his responsibilities at that time was to maintain the 

heart/lung machines for polio patients. He also served as Laboratory 

and X-Ray Director in Collinsville for a year, in addition to acting as 

Assistant Administrator. In 1964, Jerry was named the Administrator 

of the Hominy Hospital, at age 27. He served in that capacity 

until 1970 when he became Assistant Administrator of the 

Okmulgee Memorial Hospital. In 1973, Jerry assumed the 

responsibilities of Administrator. Significant clinical and capital 

improvements were made during his administration. He also 

initiated a successful campaign to increase the number of physicians 

practicing in Okmulgee. He was with St. Francis Hospital between 

1989 and 1995, developing Regional Outreach progra 

	

Professional Associations are many: Member of the College 

of Hospital Administrators; Oklahoma Hospital Association (OHA); 

OHA Chairman of the Oklahoma Medicare Group Appeals Committee. 

Served as Board of Trustee member of the OHA and served on several 

other Committees for the OHA. Additionally, Jerry served on the 

following policy groups, commissions and/or committees: 

Medical Products Systems, Inc.; Eastern Oklahoma Development 

District-Emergency Services, Oklahoma Council for Health Careers, 

Oklahoma Health System Agency, Oklahoma Blue Cross/Blue 

Shield Advisory Committee. He was a member of the American 

College of Health Care Executives. 

	

He served on several Civic and Public Service Organizations: 

Chairman of the United Fund, American Red Cross Board of 

Directors, Rotary Club Board of Directors, Task Force on 

Community Impact, Board of Trustees-Leadership Okmulgee 

Committee, YMCA Physical Properties Committee, Chairman 

of the Okmulgee Chamber of Commerce in 1987.

	Following a short “early retirement”, Jerry began a 

new career when he became the Assistant Administrator at 

the Rural Electric Cooperative in Lindsay. His second 

retirement was in 2001. 

	

On November 24, 1957, Jerry married Marlene Luper and 

were married in Ada, Oklahoma. At retirement, Jerry and 

Marlene moved to Pryor, Oklahoma and enjoyed traveling, 

fishing and boating until they returned to Okmulgee in 2003. 

	

Under the influence of strong Christian parents, Jerry became 

a Christian at an early age. He was active in the Baptist church 

wherever he lived. He taught Adult Sunday School classes many 

years and occasionally led the music in Adult II as well. At the 

time of his death, he was a member at the First Baptist Church 

of Okmulgee. 

	

While many who knew Jerry, knew that he enjoyed playing guitar 

and composed many songs. One of his compositions, “Soft Whispers” 

written for Marlene. Jerry enjoyed spending time with his grandsons 

from their birth until the time of his death. 

	

Jerry is survived by his wife, Marlene, daughter and son-in-law, 

Pamela and Jerry Barnett of Oklahoma City, daughter and son-in-law, 

Deborah and Dane Sisco of Garden City, KS; grandsons: Lance Corporal 

Laramie Sisco, Camp LeJeune (currently serving in Irag), Cale Sisco, 

OSU-Okmulgee and Ladd Sisco, Garden City, KS; daughter and son-in-law; 

Jana and SSGT. Elton E. Mitchell, III (currently serving in Irag), 

Ft. Riley, KS; grandsons, Specialist Jared Marsh, OK National Guard 

and student, Claremore, Ok; Taylor Marsh, Ft. Riley, KS 

(leaving for Army Basic Training in July), son David Johnson, WI; 

grandson: David Anthony Johnson, WI. 

	

Jerry is also survived by his brother, C.W. Johnson and wife, Joni, 

twin sister, Carol Jean Hartgraves and husband, Richard, sister, 

Sue Hudson and husband, Jim and brother, Samuel Johnson and wife, 

Carol Ann. He is further survived by nieces, nephews, other relatives 

and many friends. 

	

Family will receive relatives and friends at the Kelley Funeral 

Chapel 220 S. Alabama Ave on Friday from 5:00 pm to 8:00 pm 

and viewing on Saturday 9:00 am to 12:00 p.m. Opportunity will be 

provided at the Shurden-Kelley Funeral Home to write remembrances 

of Jerry and notes for the family. Services will be 2:00 p.m. 

Saturday, June 18, 2005 at the First Baptist Church in Okmulgee 

with Reverend Jerry Fielder and Dr. Dennis Taylor officiating.

Services are under the direction of the Shurden-Kelley 

Funeral Home of Okmulgee. 

	

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be

given to any of the following: Million Dollar Miracle 

Campaign at the First Baptist Church of Okmulgee, 

American Cancer Society or the American Lung 

Association.