Lavern Johnson

A Great Man was born

On July 8, 1934 Lavern “Papa Bear” Johnson was born in Kilgore, TX to the late Andrew Johnson and the late Lommie Harrold-Johnson .

A Jack of All Trades

Lavern attended Post Oak North Chapel School where he played football and basketball. Upon graduating, he attended Texas College, Tyler, TX, for two years. He was the co-chairman of the North Chapel School reunion and joined Post Oak Baptist Church and served as deacon until he was not able to do so. At an early age, Lavern had become affiliated with the Post Oak Grand Lodge. He was Past Master of Post Oak Lodge# 0436 and Past District manager of District #2. He owned his own auto repair shop where he worked on cars for over 30 years. He retired from Stroh’s Brewery after many years and started driver for the railroad for eleven years until his health started to fail. He was such a loving and caring individual who would go out of his way to help others. Family oriented, he was. He valued family and was no stranger to anyone. Friends knew him as “Papa Bear” and family knew him as Uncle Dub, who always had a smile on his face

His Final Goodbye

Lavern was surrounded by the love of his family in his passing

He is preceded in death by his wife, Laverne S. Johnson, mother, Lommie Harrold-Johnson, father, Andrew Johnson, brothers Johnny Johnson Sr, Herbert Johnson, Leon Johnson, Horace Johnson, sisters, Ruby Doss, Archie Johnson, Georgia Johnson.

He leaves to cherish his memories, his six children; Preston Johnson (Calva), Richard Johnson, Sadrick Johnson, Reginald Johnson (Yanira), Erica Johnson (Larry) and Tameka Rucker (Tyrone). Eleven grandchildren; Charla Dow (Kermit), Crystal Johnson, Andrew Johnson (Jazmen), Sarah Cox (Eric), Jakori Randall (Ravyn), Keelan Morrow, Bryce White, Natalie Johnson, Briana Johnson, Ashley Easter, and Tyson Rucker. Seven great-grandchildren and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.

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