Edwin Gail Johnson was born on February 26, 1925 to Noble and Ola Huyck Johnson at the family home near Sharon, Oklahoma. On May 6, 2009, at the age of 84, Ed left his home in Stillwater, Oklahoma to be with his Lord and Savior in his new heavenly home. His childhood was spent with loving parents, brothers and his sister on their family farm near Sharon. His grade school years were spent in the rural schools of the area before enrolling in the Sharon Public School system. Ed was attending high school there when World War II broke out.

Shortly after the war's beginning and prior to having graduated from high school, Ed entered the U.S. Army and served his country throughout the war. The first part of his service was in the Pacific Islands. At the end of the war, he was sent to Kobe, Japan where he served with the 236th Quartermaster Co. During this time he headed up a team of 150 former Japanese soldiers as they participated in salvage operations and were being repatriated into their country. Ed held the rank of staff sergeant at the time of his honorable discharge at Ft. Sam Houston. Years later Congress bestowed high school diplomas upon those whose education had been interrupted by the war. At the Veteran's Day ceremony of 2001, held in the Vici High School Auditorium, Ed proudly received his high school diploma. He and all his comrades-in-arms across the nation were acutely aware that this presentation was for more than merely graduating from high school – it was for graduating from the toughest of all schools – the "school of hard knocks."

After his return home, Ed was united in marriage to Mary Adeline Hughes of Fargo, Oklahoma at Canadian, Texas on November 12, 1948. Their loving marriage was blessed with the birth of three children – Larry, Donnie and Edwina. Ed and Mary started their own farming and cattle operation which Ed continued even into the last year of his life. While Mary "kept the home fires burning" Ed took additional employment first with the Sharon Feed Mill, then the College Experiment Station in Woodward and later, on the county road maintenance crew of southern Woodward County. He held this last job for 28 years and was a "road supervisor" for much of that time. He has helped build most of the roads and bridges that are used in southern Woodward County today.

Ed and Mary's home was in the Vici School District and Ed eventually became a member of the Vici School Board and served a term as its president. If service on any school board earns credit for one's angel's wings, Ed was half way home before he made this final departure. Ed dealt well with all adversity regardless of whether he was serving school, family or community. His positive and loving attitude always seemed to help carry everyone through the most difficult situations.

Mary preceded Ed in death on April 10, 1992. He had also recently lost his brother, Leland. It was a difficult time for both Ed and Leland's wife, Evelyn, and they found consolation in reminiscing family times together and observing the devotion that their children held for them and for one another. They were already "family" so it was a natural thing for them to eventually marry and develop a new and more lasting love – one that has blessed the two of them, their families and their many friends since their marriage on March 13, 1994.

Ed loved "sports" and was an excellent athlete when young. He loved to hunt and fish and was an avid gardener. To say that Ed was a "tease" is an understatement to those that have had the privilege of knowing and loving him. He would lovingly pick on anyone and especially delighted in indulging in this "sport" among the youthful members of his family and community. To his own grandchildren Ed has always lovingly been called "Grandpa." Evelyn's grandchildren have no memory of a grandfather other than Ed and all lovingly call him "Gramps." Ed never met a stranger and stayed "young at heart" throughout his lifetime – surely, a blessing from God.

Ed was baptized while a youth and was initially a member of the South Persimmon Baptist Church. He later joined the Christian Church in Vici and served as a Deacon, communion steward, and church board member. More importantly he has served God and his savior, Jesus Christ, through the light of the testimony of his life. The church has held a special place in both the hearts of Ed and Evelyn. Ed was a member of the Community Christian Church and had been very active in its service until the advent of his more recent health problems. Evelyn now continues that journey for the both of them.

Ed was preceded in death not only by his first wife, Mary, but by his parents, Noble and Ola and his brothers – Victor, Lafe, Leonard, Leland and Dean. He is survived by his beloved wife, Evelyn of the Stillwater home; his children and their spouses – Larry and Carol Johnson of Lubbock, Texas, Donnie and Linda Johnson of Vici and Edwina and Walter Pingry of Dallas, Texas; by Evelyn's children and their spouses – Joni and Gary Stallings of Idabel, Kenton and Betty Johnson of Norman and Rae Ann and Tim Kruse of Stillwater; Ed's brother and sister-in-law, Jesse and Lynn Johnson of Lubbock, Texas; his sister, Alva Jean Stoner of Woodward; a sister-in-law and her husband, Luella and LeRoy Pierce of WaKeeney, Kansas; sister-in-law and her husband, Lena Mae and Elmer Regan of Woodward; brother-in-law and his wife, Elvin and Beverly Sweet of Enid; and sister-in-law Anna Mae Sweet of Vici; by 14 grandchildren, 17 great-grandchildren, many nieces and nephews and more friends than one can knowingly number.