Freestone County, Texas Obituaries Corsicana Daily Sun January 12, 2008 B.J. Johnson B.J. Johnson, 78, went to his heavenly home on Wednesday, Jan. 9, 2008. Visitation and fellowship will be held at 2 p.m. Monday, Jan. 14, at Calvary Worship Center, 1364 N. Beaton St. A memorial service will be held at 3:30 p.m. Monday at Calvary Worship Center with Dr. Gary W. Johnson officiating. B.J. “Bobby” Johnson was born Aug. 12, 1929, in Ennis, to his beloved mother, Anna Mae Brigance Johnson, and father, Robert Joseph Johnson. Bobby’s childhood was spent in Houston, Corsicana and ultimately Fairfield. His large frame was an asset to the Fairfield High School football team. He began working very young. He sold newspapers on Beaton Street as a little boy. Bobby drove a bread truck and one day gave away every loaf of bread in the truck and that career was over. Bobby’s mother was his first and great love. She raised him in hard times and taught him about hard work, the importance and love of family, honor and respect. He often reflected on how she managed to present him with a bicycle on the $9 a week that she earned. He joined the U.S. Army when he was 17 and was stationed in Korea during wartime. He noted there was a time when he missed his mother so much he cried. He almost froze to death in the trenches over there and never forgot that cold. He proudly served our country for three years. Upon his return to Texas, Bobby worked as a Dallas police officer for two years. He enjoyed law enforcement but ultimately returned to Fairfield and started a business with his father. Bobby had one old truck that he noted he worked on every night and drove every day. Trucking became his passion and this one truck business gave birth to “Johnson Trucking” that operated over 100 MACK trucks running up and down the highways of Texas. Bobby was mathematically gifted and became vice president of E.W. Hable and Sons. He loved building highways and the challenges of using his wit at the monthly Austin Highway biddings with Bob Hable. Bobby had great pride in all that he set out to accomplish. There will be lasting touches of his work in our city of Corsicana, to the borders of East Texas and even to Houston. It pleased Bobby to know that there were few roads in this state that we could drive on that he had not either repaired or built. Any one that has had the privilege of knowing Bobby knows that he lived life in a very big way. Not just on certain days, but every day. He lived life freely like many of us only dream of. He was a self made man driven by hard work and the memory of growing up with so little. Even as recently as last week B.J. was looking forward to new work projects and exploring new medical procedures to enable him to continue to enjoy life. Bobby loved his Heavenly Father and he expressed that love to his friends and family in the same grand way he approached each aspect of his life. His faith was evident in his generous spirit. He was a giver. His love for our Lord grew and became such a part of him. He was never as happy as the day that he felt instrumental in bringing his only brother to accept Jesus as his personal Savior. His joy that day was something to behold. He was not shy about asking people if Jesus was a part of their lives. He never looked at a mountain range or the stars in the sky without standing in awe of our Creator. As a family we have the peace knowing that our Bobby is with his Heavenly Father enjoying paradise with him. Luke 23:43 — Jesus answered him, “ I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise.” Those of us that knew Bobby knew he loved to fly. He was a licensed pilot. He flew to Dallas with his dear friend Doug York to purchase his first airplane and to Doug’s dismay, took off without him to return to Corsicana and laughingly told us of almost taking out the historic red horse atop a building in downtown Dallas. He greatly enjoyed all the aspects of hunting, camping and feeding the hunters, but Bobby really never shot anything. Don Richards has many of those stories to tell. He enjoyed animals of all kinds. The cattle he owned were all named and a holiday did not go by without a bunny, goat or duck swimming in the sink. He always wanted a chimp, their antics made him laugh — it was a purchase for the future. His work breaks were not in a coffee room but maybe a game of wits with his domino and card club. He loved to stop in and visit. Bobby’s charisma charmed even his doctor. Dr. Melissa Carry of Baylor Medical in Dallas has orchestrated every detail of Bobby’s medical challenges for nine years and has become so very dear to our family. She desperately tried to overcome the challenges he was facing knowing in her heart if there was any man that could triumph over medical challenges, it would be Bobby Johnson. He was preceded in death by his father, Robert Joseph Johnson; his beloved mother, Anna Mae Brigance Johnson; sister, Mildred Johnson; and his beloved brother, James Edward Johnson. He leaves behind his firstborn daughter, Debra Johnson; two sons, John Edward and Christopher Robin; his youngest daughter, Bonnie Jill; grandson, Andrew; his much beloved granddaughters, Victoria Ashton, Brooklyn Jade, Jordan Nicole, Bailey Robin and Staci Ann; and nieces and nephews. He shall never cease to be missed. No one can ever take his place or ever fill his shoes. Next to his family, he loved far too many to name but you know in your heart who you are. Those of you in city positions were much more to him than just business acquaintances. He cherished his relationships with each of you and we shall miss each new story in regards to daily events. Donations in honor of Bobby may be made to the Navarro County Food Pantry, the American Cancer Society or the American Heart Association. Bobby was the most generous and giving man we all have ever known. He never said no to anyone that needed help. It was Bobby’s nature to give to the living. Bobby’s final gift was to donate his heart for study in hopes of benefiting even one human being. Bobby had a code of honor from days gone by that made him so special. His respect for his mother, family, friends and work can never be forgotten. Incredible father, grandfather, businessman, gentleman and friend. He leaves an amazing legacy. A dear friend sent her condolences and a quote she felt captured the essence of Bobby. We, as a family, agree with her. “When he shall die, take him and cut him out in little stars and he will make the face of heaven so fine that all the world will be in love with night.” — William Shakespeare May we take the love that Bobby has shared with each of us and pass it on. Arrangements by Corley Funeral Home.