by Cyndy Slovak-Barton
Kyle lost a wonderful soul this past week when Gene Johnson – wife of former Hays CISD superintendent William “Moe” Johnson, as well as former co-owner of the Hays Free Press and former tax collection expert – died on Wednesday, Aug. 14.
In recent years, she hasn’t been as well known as in her former times. She drove her husband around when he could no longer do it himself. She was the center of his universe.
Her paintings of local Kyle scenes can be seen in all kinds of places. And, if you know to look, you will find a tiny little redbird in each painting.
It’s what she did.
Like baking, writing, caring for grandchildren, and teaching Sunday school.
Gene loved her kids and grandkids. In fact, she loved children in almost every instance. Her eyes would light up when she saw a baby and her face would turn into a twinkling grin.
But that grin could turn into a stern look when she thought a person was “doing wrong” or not taking the right path. She didn’t say much in public, but “you just knew.”
Maybe her sense of right and wrong came from her early years. She grew up in San Marcos, but lived all of her adult life in Kyle. When she and her husband were just married, Moe and his best friend, Bob Barton, purchased the Kyle News – while they were both in college. With only one journalism class under their belts, they took on the endeavor.
And that meant their spouses, Gene and Wynette Barton, would also be involved. In early photos of the newspaper, Gene could be seen proofing type. She worked side-by-side with others on the staff.
In later years, after her children were out of the house, Gene joined the law firm of local attorney Chester Young, who worked on tax collections for Hays CISD.
That meant Gene would become an expert. She worked hard during those years, helping collect taxes for the struggling school district.
She knew what taxes meant to schools – her husband Moe had been the founding superintendent of Hays CISD. She knew the vital role that the school played in the community and this was her community.
And, all the while, Gene was a painter, a writer, a teacher.
Her paintings are in the newspaper office, banks, offices and old city hall.
Her books cover the history of Hays County, the chronicles of the Kyle High basketball program to the state basketball meet and lately the history of Hays CISD.
Her love of children meant that her home was always welcomed calls of “Mrs. J” or “Mrs. Gene.” Her Sunday School class was lively, her home open to family and friends.
Kyle and Buda have lost a treasure. No longer will offices be greeted with the aroma of freshly baked Amish bread, heavy with nuts and fruits. No longer will she be seen holding her coffees, or teaching Sunday school.
She will be missed by people who knew her. And those who didn’t, don’t know what a joy it was to see her cross your threshold.
