Stephen Johnson

Mark Stephen Johnson, first son of Ernest and Billie (Jones) Johnson, was born on July 6, 1953 at Newman Memorial Hospital in Shattuck, OK. Stephen lived in numerous places with his parents, until his parents settled down in Fritch, TX. He started school in Fritch, but when he was eight his parents had to start moving again for work, and he attended many schools throughout Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas and Wyoming. In 1966, his family was able to settle down again in Vici, OK. Stephen attended Vici Public Schools and graduated with the Class of 1971.

As a child Stephen was very precocious and curious. He had many adventures on his stick horse, Charlie Horse, and many times it would lead to trouble. If the duo disappeared, his mother would go looking wherever children were playing, and that's where she would find them.

Stephen worked alongside his father, who was a Registered Land Surveyor. This would lead him to his own career as a Registered Land Surveyor. When Stephen was 15, his dad sent him and another Vici teenager to Gillette, Wyoming to work a job that Ernest had going. Steve didn't even have a driver's license yet, but his dad sent him out into the world with the faith Steve would get it done. He did.

After graduating from high school Steve headed to Tennessee where his dad had a job for the summer waiting for him. That fall he went to college at Panhandle State College and the next year he attended OSU. After a couple of years in college, he decided to once again go work with his father at Houston, TX. He lived in Houston for several years. It was during this time that his only child, Amanda Jo Johnson Brittain, was born in 1981. Eventually, he left Houston for the work he loved, surveying. He was registered in many states which led him to jobs all over.

In 1997 he married the love of his life, Denita Yvette, on July 25, 1997 in Amarillo, Texas. He and Denita recently celebrated their 29th wedding anniversary. The two lived many places throughout their marriage, but eventually moved to Tulia, TX, in 2017. Steve embraced Denita's daughter, Gee, and husband Mark Price, and her children and later grandchildren. He was a kind, generous and loving husband, father, grandfather, son, brother, and uncle. He was loyal to family and friends and was a man of his word.

Throughout his life Stephen loved horses and he spent some summers at his Grandpa Johnson's farm helping there and working with his Uncle Herschel's horses. He also loved hunting with the Johnson Clan, a hobby he enjoyed all his life. Other hobbies were reading and collecting guns.

Following his grandfather and father's footsteps, he was also a 32nd Degree Mason and kept his membership with the Vici Masonic Lodge. Stephen was baptized as a teenager and kept his faith to the very end. He was also a member of several professional land surveying groups.

He is preceded in death by his paternal grandparents, Otis and Susie (O'Hair) Johnson; his maternal grandparents, Pete and Syble (Petree) Jones; his father, Ernest C. Johnson, Sr.; his mother, Billie (Jones) Moran and step-father Cleo Moran; his uncles, Herschel and Ira Ellis Johnson, Norman Allen, and Keith Jones; aunts, Evaree Johnson, Gail Johnson and Leona (Jones) Allen.

He is survived by his wife, Denita, of the home; his daughter Amanda and her husband Kenny and grandchildren, Abigail and Isaac Brittain of Houston, TX; his step-daughter and husband, Gee and Mark Price; his grandchildren, Krys, Daryan, and Chasity, and great-grandchildren, Oliver, Casey, Telly and Mickey, of Amarillo, TX. He is also survived by his sister and husband, Larry and Angela White of Vici; brother and wife, Cliff and Lisa Johnson of Edmond; three nephews and one niece; many cousins; three great-nephews, three great-nieces; one aunt, Darlene Kygar Beaver, OK; Uncle Harold and wife Louise Jones of Alba, TX; and Bob and Cathy Jones of Cleo Springs; and many friends.

In lieu of flowers memorial donations may be made to the
Harmon Cemetery
c/o Shaw Funeral Home
P.O. Box 276
Vici, OK 73859.