Clifford E. Johnson

Clifford E. Johnson

Clifford E. Johnson, 63, of LaPlata died Sunday, December 25, 2011 in LaPlata.

He was born on January 24, 1948 in Mt. Vernon, Missouri, the son of William and Velma (Sumpter) Johnson. On April 20, 1968, in Kirksville, he was married to Sue Jones who survives.

Also surviving are two sons, Mike Johnson and special friend, Donna Bass of LaPlata and Mark Johnson and wife Lisa of Kirksville; one sister, Patty White of Kirksville; step-brother, Kenny Johnson of St. Louis; two half-brothers, Callie and Kevin Johnson of Illinois; seven grandchildren, Cory, Derek, and Emily Johnson, Alisha Robinson and husband Michael, Shelby Johnson, and Zeke and Ethan Frueh; four great-grandchildren, Sydney and Tyler Robinson and Averie and Zoe Johnson; and several nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents, his step-mother, Marie Matheny, and mother-in-law and father-in-law, Junior and Lydia Jones.

Clifford received his education in Brashear schools, graduating from high school in 1966. He entered the United States Army in February 1968 serving until January 1970. He was a radio operator in Germany. After his military service, he worked at Donaldson's Incorporated in Kirksville until an injury forced his retirement. Clifford continued to be active in the community cooking and helping whenever called upon. He coached and enjoyed watching his boys play baseball. He loved to play pitch and he and Charlie McClanahan were hard to beat. He was an avid reader of western books. He was a life member of the VFW abroad and a member of Sugar Creek Community Church.

Funeral service will be held at 11:00 a.m. Friday, December 30, 2011 at Davis-Playle-Hudson-Rimer Funeral Home with Virgil K. Jones officiating. Musical selections will be "Daddy's Hands", "Old Rugged Cross", and "Peace In The Valley" sung by The Sweetwater Family Gospel Group. Burial will follow at Missouri Veteran's Cemetery in Jacksonville.

Pallbearers will be Cory Johnson, Derek Johnson, Rick Johnson, Danny Johnson, Dennis McClanahan, and Michael Robinson.

The family will receive friends from 10:00 a.m. until the time of service at Davis-Playle-Hudson-Rimer Funeral Home, 2100 E. Shepherd Ave., Kirksville, MO 63501 660-665-2233

Memorials are suggested to the Johnson family.