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Norma M. Johnson
Norma McKennon Johnson, age 81, a
lifelong resident of Clarksville, passed away at her home after an
extended illness. She was born to the late State Senator Paul McKennon
and Pearl Blackard McKennon on October 12, 1926.
She was a loyal and lifetime member
of the First United Methodist Church of Clarksville. She was
predeceased by her husband, Earle King (E. K.) Johnson, and by her
siblings, one sister, Pauline McKennon Amos and twin brothers, Clyde
and Claude McKennon.
Norma is the last surviving
Clarksville member of a large group of McKennons who migrated to
Clarksville at the end of the Civil War. She was descended from a
pioneer Johnson County family on her maternal side, the Blackards. She
was a great-great-granddaughter of Tolliver Goldstone Blackard, who
arrived in Johnson County in the 1830s.
Following graduation from
Clarksville High School she was proud to have worked for the War
Department during World War II at the Los Angeles Port of Embarkation.
She returned to Clarksville after the War where she met her husband, E.
K., at the Palace Drug Store. They married January 26, 1947, and
immediately worked together to build their family business, Eureka
Brick and Tile Company in Clarksville. The family continued operation
of the business for 53 years.
In healthier years, she enjoyed
playing bridge, boating on the Arkansas River and landscaping. She also
enjoyed a lifelong love of poetry. She was a member of the Supper Club
which met at the Johnson Family Lodge on Little Piney. She was a member
of the T.T.T. society and considered sharing time at the river with her
“Cousins” group as one of the highlights of her life. Her greatest joy
on earth was her devoted family.
She is survived by her daughter,
Paula Johnson Glasgow and her husband, Roger, and by her beloved
grandson, Kingsley Johnson Glasgow and his wife, Angela, all of
Little
Rock. She is also survived by her son, Bradford Earle Johnson, and his
wife, Suzanne, and two stepgrandchildren, Justin and Anthony Webb, all
of Clarksville.
Memorials may be made to the First
United Methodist Church, P. O. Box 535, Clarksville, Arkansas 72830, or
to the University of the Ozarks, Earle K. and Norma M. Johnson
Communications Program Endowment, 415 North College Avenue,
Clarksville, Arkansas 72830.
Visitation will be held from
5:30-7:30 p.m. on Wednesday, April 30, 2008, at Hardwicke Funeral Home
in Clarksville. A private graveside service will be held at Oakland
Cemetery on Thursday, May 1, 2008. A memorial service to honor Norma’s
life will be at Clarksville’s First United Methodist Church at 2:00
p.m. on Friday, May 2, 2008.
Honorary Pallbearers are Carroll
Bumpers, Paul Bumpers, Dane Clay, Dudley Flint, Harold Lewis, Drew
Linder, Ross McCarley, Dr. Richard McKelvey, Dierk Pulliam, Dr. W.
Ernest King, Virgil Knight, Dr. John Rommel and Stewart Willey.
The family is deeply grateful to the
dedicated and loving caregivers who extended Norma’s life who brought
her much love and joy. The Johnson family asks your prayers in the days
ahead as we give thanks for Norma’s life which provided the heartbeat
of our family for 61 years.
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