Johnnie Margaret Lee (Greer) Houston-Nelson

Johnnie Margaret Lee Houston-Nelson was born April 7, 1938, the oldest of three children born to Jason Lee and Pauline Mae Greer (nee Edwards). She grew up in Morrilton, Arkansas and graduated from Morrilton High School in 1956.

As a child, Johnnie spent much of her summers in Altus, Arkansas with her grandparents, Mama and Papa Edwards. She was the only granddaughter of four grandchildren and her grandparents doted on her.

Johnnie attended the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville after graduating high school. She was a member of the Razorback Marching Band and played clarinet. She worked for the Arkansas Tuberculosis Sanitorium near Booneville, Arkansas in the summer of 1957. While there, she met the love of her life, C.E. Houston. They married on March 5, 1958, and became the proud parents of Beth, Pam and Brian.

In 1971, Johnnie earned her LPN license. She worked at various hospitals and then decided to try industrial nursing. She started her industrial nursing career at Wolverine Toy (later Today's Kids) and remained there until 1983 when she and C.E. moved to Del City, OK. They moved to Yukon, Oklahoma in 1986 and Johnnie remained in industrial nursing for a total of 25 years, additionally working for C.M.I. and Hertz corporation. C.E. passed away in 1996 and Johnnie made change, moving to the Oklahoma City Clinic working for Dr. David Vu. She remained there until she retired in 2016 at age 78.

After C.E.'s death, and never one to sit at home, Johnnie learned to square dance. She became an avid square and round dancer and danced until her health declined. She was heavily involved with both local and national square dance clubs, traveling extensively across the United States. In 2013, she found love again with her dance partner, Bernie Nelson. They married on December 30, 2016, and danced together until his health declined.

Johnnie was a lifelong member of the Order of the Eastern Star, loved to cook, taught first-aid classes, was a Girl Scout Troop leader and organized company blood drives.

Johnnie is survived by: her children Beth and husband Kevin of Warr Acres, OK, Pam and husband David of Southlake, TX, Brian and wife Gina of Cedar Lake, OK; grandchildren, Paige Smith, Nick and wife Coleeta Smith, Griffin Smith, Jason and wife Sarah Caveny, Elaina and husband Jeremy Dewbre, Seth Houston, Jill and husband Brandon Prince, Marissa Robinson, Matthew Nelson and Charlotte Knight; great grandchildren, Hanna and Gavin Houston, Garon Dewbre, Carson, Mina, Person, Lucian and Phoenix Smith, Asher, Emma, Bella, William, Jude, Levi and Luke Caveny and Evelyn Nelson. She also leaves behind her lifelong friends Joanne Pennebaker, Linda Khilling and her sweet kitty, Buttons.

Johnnie was proceeded in death by: husbands, C.E. Houston and Bernie Nelson; parents Jason and Pauline Greer; siblings, infant sister, Linda Delores Greer, brother, Michael Paul Henry Greer and stepson Danny Nelson.

The family would like to thank Johnnie's friend and former employer, Dr. David Vu, friend and nurse Pam Overstreet and the many former co-workers and staff that knew, worked and continued to care for Johnnie. They would also like to thank the office and staff of Legend at Jefferson's Garden where she lived for the last year, especially Joel, Mel, Riley, Cece, Topie and Dr. Linda Luzio. A special thanks to: Alberta, Johnnie's nurse, friend and confidant at Saint Ann's Rebab; the staff of Ignite Medical Resort; the nurses of Valir Hospice, especially Sharese; and finally, Pastor Aaron Kotila who came every month to provide the sacraments to Johnnie.

There will be a public visitation for Johnnie on Thursday, August 8, 2024 from 4:00 pm until 8:00 pm with services to following on Friday, August 9, 2024 at 10:00 am at Ingram, Smith and Turner Mortuary in Yukon, Oklahoma. She will be laid to rest at the Yukon Cemetery in Yukon, Oklahoma.

We will Love and Miss you Grannie, until we meet again.

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