Helen Johnson

Helen May (Patton) Johnson was born on January 1, 1941 in Salina, Oklahoma to Floyd and Novell (Scott) Patton. She departed this life on September 14, 2022 in Salina at the age of 81 years with her family by her side. Helen married the love of her life, Donald Travis Johnson, on July 7, 1957. They were married for 65 years and 3 days before the Lord called Don home. Helen was a lifetime resident of Mayes County. She was a homemaker and also helped her husband run their business, Johnson’s Meat Plant, that they built together and ran for 13 years before selling and retiring. She was a member of the Salina Assembly of God Church and also attended Blue Springs Church. She was an amazing cook; her chicken and dumplings and pineapple upside down cake was the best. She loved to cook big meals for her family and always had a big garden. Helen also enjoyed fishing, mainly for catfish. She loved her children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren and looked forward to their sporting events, watching them show at the fair and just coming to visit. She was all about her family. Helen was a loving, caring, wonderful, wife, mother, grandma, and friend. She was the Best. Helen leaves behind many memories for her family to cherish.

Funeral services will be held at 10:00 a.m., Tuesday, September 20, 2022 in the Shipman’s Funeral Home Chapel with Reverend Lorne Beck officiating. Burial will follow in the Graham Memorial Cemetery with Steven Stephenson, Travis Johnson, Donnie Johnson, Jr., Tyler Lacey, Kason Webster, and Lee Cook serving as casket bearers. Visitation will be held from 6:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m., Monday, September 19, 2022 at Shipman’s Funeral Home in Pryor. To leave her family a message, please visit her Tribute Wall at www.shipmansfuneralhome.com. Cremation arrangements are under the direction of Shipman’s Funeral & Cremation Service.

Helen is survived by her sons, Donnie Johnson and wife Susan of Pryor, Oklahoma and Darrell Johnson and wife Monica of Adair, Oklahoma; daughter, Donna Geres and husband Paul of Pryor, Oklahoma; sisters, Betty Booth of Pryor, Oklahoma, Judy Willyard of Pryor, Oklahoma; and Tresa Breazele and husband Jerry of Miami, Oklahoma; brother, Kenny Patton and wife Kathy of Chouteau, Oklahoma; 8 grandchildren, Amy Cook and husband Lee of Tahlequah, Oklahoma, Donnie Johnson, Jr. and wife Megan of Pryor, Oklahoma, Ashley Stephenson and husband Steven of Salina, Oklahoma, Kimberly McDowell and husband Mike of Spavinaw, Oklahoma; April Webster and husband Anthony of Spavinaw, Oklahoma; Travis Johnson and wife Rebecca of Strang, Oklahoma, Nicholas Lacey, and Tyler Lacey and wife Jolene; 16 great grandchildren; and 1 great great grandson on the way. She is preceded in death by her husband, Donald Johnson; parents, Floyd and Novell Patton; brothers, Gene and Carl Patton; and numerous other relatives.