Barbara Sue Johnson

It is with heavy hearts that we share the sudden passing of our beloved and cherished member of our family, Barbara Johnson.

Barbara Sue Bohannan was born on November 12, 1941 to Myrtle and Walter Bohannan in the little river town of Alton, Illinois. She would often comment about being teased when the song “Barbara Ann” became popular because, of course, she was a Barbara Sue!

A few years later, her parents brought her a baby brother, Ronnie Dean. With both of their parents working long hours, the siblings spent most of their childhood with their Aunt Jane and cousins, Mark and Jeffrey McElroy. She remembered the days of growing up near the river fondly and would often surprise guests with her culinary prowess including skinning squirrels and serving up frog legs!

Sadly, Barbara lost her brother in a tragic bike accident at a young age, a theme that would unfortunately follow her through life.

After graduation from Alton Senior High School in 1959, Barbara continued her education at Eastern Illinois University where she was a proud member of Tri-Sigma Sorority. Following graduation, she was honored to land a job with NASA. Exactly what she did there remains a bit of a family mystery (apparently, it was above our security clearance levels) but she was able to hone her skill of short-hand which she used throughout her life, both in business and in making endless to-do lists.

While at NASA, she met her first love, Dareld Swisher, and they were married on August 27, 1963 in Alton, Illinois. Tragedy struck again as she lost Dareld to a boating accident shortly after their nuptials. But she would soon find love again in her lifelong soulmate, Craig Johnson who she married in Houston on Valentine’s Day, February 14, 1969.

Barbara and Craig built a wonderful life together. She stood beside Craig as his career took him to leadership positions with International Paper and RIS Paper Company, and together they eventually founded Crabar Paper and Allied Products Corporation. Together they traveled the world, moved to multiple houses, celebrated with friends, engaged in local associations, supported their family, friends, philanthropies, and communities, and parented their fur-babies, Boomer, Scooter, Sarge, and Kate.

Unfortunately, tragedy struck a third time when Barbara lost Craig to a motorcycle accident in 2001, when he was hit by a drunk driver. After Craig’s death, Barbara continued to care for her father-in-law, Ted Johnson, who suffered from Lewy Body Disease.

Through all of that, Barbara remained a strong advocate for her family and moved to McKinney, TX with her mother, Myrtle, in 2007 following the birth of her grand-niece, Johannah Mejia. Following Myrtle’s passing a few years later, Barbara remained in McKinney to be near family with her dogs, Chocolate and Winnie, as she cared for her grand-niece and grand-nephew.

Barbara is proceeded in death by her parents - Myrtle (Aunt Monk) and Walter Bohannon, brother – Ronnie Dean Bohannon, aunt – Jane McElroy, spouses – Dareld Swisher and Craig Johnson, and cousin – Jeffrey McElroy. Barbara leaves behind sister-in-law, Brenda Edwards and her husband Paul, Goddaughter and niece – Paige Edwards-Mejia and her husband Cesar Mejia II and children Johannah and Cesar III, cousin - Mark McElroy, second cousin – Clayton McElroy and his children Jane, Tristan, and Khloe, second cousin - Ben McElroy and his son Nicholas, numerous friends around the globe, and her fur babies - Winnie and Chocolate, who are living the rest of their days as part of the Mejia Menagerie.

Barbara’s life was not always easy, but she lived it with courage, humor, independence, and an enormous capacity to love.

We will miss her more than words can say. We remain grateful for every story, every visit, every piece of advice, every meal, every gift, and every memory she gave us.

A celebration of her life will be held on Friday, August 28 from 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM at Charles W. Smith & Sons Funeral Home in McKinney, Texas.