~Legacy of Life~

On August 6, 1933, Blanche Marie Johnson was born to Roy Edward Johnson and Birdie Marie Clark. She was the first born to this union. Blanche accepted Christ at an early age and was baptized at The Greater Mount Carmel Missionary Baptist Church. In 1964, Blanche became a member of the Morning Star Baptist Church, under the leadership of Dr. T. Oscar Chappelle, Sr.

Blanche began her formal education at Paul Laurence Dunbar Elementary, George Washington Carver Junior High, and Booker Taliaferro Washington Senior High, graduating in 1951 from "The Pride of the Great Southwest" . After graduation, she furthered her studies at the Tulsa Business College, the Oklahoma School of Accounting, and the University of Tulsa.

Blanche's first fulltime employment came as a bookkeeper at Mayo's Furniture, with part-time work at Zale's Jewelry. In the late sixties, Blanche moved into the oil and gas business working as a bookkeeper for Sun Oil Company (later renamed, Sunoco), taking early retirement in 1983. Not content to merely sit at home, Blanche began a second career as an office administrator at Thomas Gilcrease Elementary.

On March 22, 1957, Blanche was blessed with her first-born child, Michael, from the union of she and Ernest Smith. On January 15, 1966, Blanche entered holy matrimony with the love of her life, Floyd Curtis Johnson (yes, they were high school sweethearts!). From this union, Eric Maurice (January 2, 1967) and Marc Kelly (July 10, 1971) were born. An active supporter of her children's pursuits, Blanche was a frequent attendee at their sporting events, academic programs, and church activities.

An avid reader, Blanche loved a good book (something about romance novels and whodunnit mysteries) and always picked one out at the library or the grocery store. Later in life, she discovered her artistic side, spending at least one day a week taking a pottery class (ask Michael how many "works of art" he has stored at his house…). Ever the quick wit (really, a sharp tongue…), she enjoyed discussing anything, from current events to politics to church. Blanche was a founding member of the Chamberlain Park Neighborhood Association, devoted countless hours as a volunteer with the Tulsa Public Schools, was a past president of the Booker T. Washington Class of 1951, and served in the Deaconess Ministry along with other ministries at the "Star".

On Christmas day, God reached down and added another flower to His heavenly garden. Blanche is preceded in death by her parents, her brother Roy Edward Johnson, Jr., husband and best friend Floyd, and beloved sons Eric and Kelly.

Blanche leaves precious memories to cherish with her son, Michael, special son, Zachery Bruner; Sister-in-Love, Lois Faye Kelley; Daughters-in-Love Carol (Michael), Yolanda (Eric), and Glenitria (Kelly); grandchildren, Ta'Keisha, Sedrick, Kelli, Michael and Marcus (Kelly), Tiara and Quiana (Eric), and Jeffrey and Evan (Michael); special life-long friends Ms. Georgia Scott and Ms. Edna Jones, along with a host of great-grandchildren, nieces and nephews.

Services will be held for Ms. Johnson on Friday, January 3, 2020 at 10:00 AM at Morning Star Baptist Church in Tulsa. She will be laid to rest in Ft. Gibson National Cemetery.

You may visit Ms. Johnson as she slumbers on Thursday, January 2, 2020 between the hours of 1:00-6:00 PM.