Obituary of Gerald Wayne Johnson

Gerald Wayne Johnson, age 59, passed away on Tuesday, February 28, 2017, at Ardmore, Okla. Funeral services will be held at 10:30 am, Friday, March 3, 2017, in The Chapel at Griffin ~ Hillcrest Funeral Home with Pastor Eugene Christian officiating. Interment to follow at Enville Cemetery. Wayne was born in Key West, Florida, on March 26, 1957, to Tommy Johnson and LaVerne (McCurtain) Johnson. He attended Ardmore, and later Lone Grove, Schools. He left school after he started working as a driver for Coors Brewing Company. Wayne worked for a time as a lineman for the electric company, and then returned to working as a driver, this time for Anheuser-Busch Budweiser. In 1991, he earned his GED certificate. He worked for Builder Bob’s Home Improvement Center for ten years. Wayne married Corliss Jean Reece on December 30, 2004, at Fox, Okla. In the years that followed, he returned to both Budweiser and Coors working as a driver until his health forced him into retirement. He was raised in the Baptist faith and attended church services at Living Word Tabernacle in Ratliff City. He liked playing pool and bingo, but his passion was playing golf. He enjoyed working with his hands building dog houses and loved spending time with his grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his father, Tommy Johnson. Wayne is survived by his wife, Corliss, of the home, nine children: daughter, Shelly Gravitt and husband, Bo, of Ardmore, daughter, Gwendell Johnson and husband, Robert Nelson, of Thackerville, son, Joshua Johnson and wife, Radonna, of Ardmore, daughter, Kayli Grant and husband, James, of Sasakwa, son, Dustin Hicks, of Overbrook, son, Joshua Hicks and wife, Andi, of Dickson, son, Jerry Hicks and wife, Lucy, of Ardmore, Like sons, Malcom Sandlin of Overbrook, and Charlie Ruoff of Ardmore. Mother, LaVerne Johnson, of Lone Grove. Twenty-seven grandchildren: Hector, Lauren, Christian, Lilli, Zach, Aliva, Cha’Risa, Chloe, Arianna, JW, Tatum, Katelyn, Raegan, Riley, Blake, Shytanna, Dusti, Makayla, Abby, Sammy, Emma, Lani, Pacience, Joshlyn, Remi, Brianne, and Ashley. Brothers: Danny Wells and wife, Debra, Randy Johnson and wife, Renea, and Dean Johnson and wife, Tina. Numerous nieces, nephews, and extended family. Serving as pallbearers will be Jason Womack, Joshua Johnson, James Grant, Bo Gravitt, Dustin Hicks, and Jerry Hicks. Honorary bearers will be Hector Almaraz, Zachary Nelson, Robert Nelson, and Charlie Ruoff. Wake services will be held on Thursday evening, from 6:00 pm until 8:00 pm, March 2, 2017, in The Chapel at Griffin ~ Hillcrest.