Mrs. Eugenia Lee (Gene) Johnson was born July 25, 1933 in Scurry County, Texas to Horace and Ruth Crumley. She lived in and around Hays County most of her life, growing up in San Marcos and living her entire adult life in Kyle.
She married William Mose (Moe) Johnson in 1952 and together they have played a vital role in the community and school district. Gene was a devoted wife and loving mother and a strong support to Moe, who was the original and founding superintendent for the Jack C. Hays School District.
An excellent cook and hostess, Gene welcomed many into her home for wonderful and comforting home-cooked meals and Saturday morning roundtable coffee sessions. Known and recognized around the area as a very talented Texas Bluebonnet Artist, Gene’s work included beautiful Texas landscapes in oils as well as paintings of various historical sites in Kyle and the surrounding area. Many of her paintings may be found displayed in local businesses, banks, and churches.
A gifted author, Mrs. Johnson wrote and collaborated on several historical works, including “Clear Springs and Limestone Ledges, a historical work on Hays County”, and with her husband Moe Johnson, the book “Panthers Fight, Never Die” that chronicles Moe’s years as coach of the very successful Kyle High School basketball program, including five successive runs to the state basketball tournament in the mid to late 1950s. More recently Gene authored “A Tribute to Vision, Courage, and Trust”, which records the history of the Hays Consolidated Independent School District.
Mrs. Johnson was a long-time member of the First Baptist Church of Kyle, where she sang in the church choir, prepared many meals, and taught a children’s Sunday School class. She always loved children and impacted the lives of many young ones through the local church and school as well as in her neighborhood, where she was known to most as Mrs. J or Mrs. Gene. Most recently she was a member of First Baptist Church of Buda. Her love for family, faith, and country is recognized by all who know her and her legacy of faith will long continue to impact many lives, especially her family. Mrs. Johnson passed peacefully from this life to the arms of her loving Savior, Jesus Christ on the afternoon of Wednesday, Aug. 14, 2013.
She is survived by her husband, Moe Johnson; daughter, Leslie Jones and her husband Glen of Buda; son Buddy Johnson and his wife Nancy of Buda; son Bobby Johnson and his wife Pam of Longview, Texas; six granddaughters: Reagan Berry, Sarah Johnson, Emily Johnson, Bethany Johnson, Hannah Johnson, and Kiley Jones; three grandsons: Jason Jones, Kyle Berry, and Trey Johnson; and one great-grandson, Wylie Berry, who was the newest pride of her life. She is also survived by her brother, Clyde Crumley and his wife Linda of Corpus Christi; a sister, Hilda Potsavich and her husband Bill of Austin; a sister-in-law, Grace Crumley of Odessa; a sister-in-law, Mac Freeman of Buda; and numerous nieces and nephews.
Mrs. Johnson was preceded in death by her parents, Horace and Ruth Crumley and her brother, Alton Crumley.
Family Visitation was held at Harrell Funeral Home in Kyle on Friday evening, August 16 from 6 to 8 p.m. Funeral Services were held at the First Baptist Church of Kyle on Saturday, Aug. 17 at 10 a.m. Serving as pallbearers were: Jason Jones, Kyle Berry, Trey Johnson, John Kimbro, Mike Moore and Jason Crain. Honorary pallbearer was Billy Lancaster. Interment followed at the Kyle Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, donations in Mrs. Johnson’s memory may be made to the building fund of First Baptist Church of Buda or to the Kyle Public Library.
The family wishes to express a special and heartfelt thanks to the 3rd floor Medical Staff of Seton Hays Hospital for their kindness and compassion expressed to our loved one and all of her family.
