Lawrence Oliver Johnson

January 7, 1938 - January 8, 2018

Lawrence Oliver Johnson, was born to Noah and Esta (Boner) Johnson on January 7, 1938 near Creal Springs Illinois. He was the first baby born in 1938 in Johnson County. The Vienna Times awarded him $10.00 and Noah and Esta received a gallon of paint. Lawrence departed this life Monday evening, January 8, 2018, at 10:01 PM at his home near Marion. At the time of his passing, he had attained the age of 80 years and 1 day. Lawrence went to school in Johnson County. First, he attended Brownlow Public School, then Whittenburg, and later Hailey. He had to cross the creek on a foot log and the goat did too! All of his children can tell you the whole story. He told it to all of them! Lawrence later attended the Vienna High School. He married Connie Jean Clark on June 29, 1966 at his parent’s home in Creal Springs. Lawrence and Connie were blessed with 2 children, Larry Wayne Johnson and Tina Rana’ Hammond. Both children were born in the Chicago area. The family lived in the home they built in West Chicago. Lawrence was employed by JelSert Company for 10 years. The company manufactured Kool Aid and Popsicles. The family moved back to Southern Illinois in 1976. They bought their 10 acres, farmed and raised cattle. The first purchase Lawrence made was his 1952 John Deere tractor, which he still has today. While breaking ground one day, the kids were watching the ground turn over and Tina said, “Mommy, this dirt has a suntan.” The dirt in Chicago was black as coal and this was brown. Lawrence also worked for his sister and brother-in-law, Gertrude and Valgene Gould, at their golf course, Green Acres, located at Herrin, Illinois for 30 years. He enjoyed tinkering with tractors, fishing, and camping. He always insisted that he caught the biggest fish (but, it was Angie that usually did). Lawrence looked forward to holiday dinners and every Sunday dinner to be with all of his children. Lawrence was a member of the New Salem Baptist Church. Lawrence will be greatly missed by all of his family: his wife – Connie Jean Johnson; his son – Larry Wayne (Angela) Johnson; daughter – Tina Rana’ (Sean) Hammond; grandchildren – Michael (Faelynn) Hammond, Angel (Brody) Johnson Harding, Brandon Wayne (Hailey) Johnson, Kari (Bryce) Hammond Hutchison, Dylan (Taylor) Hammond and Brooke (Dustin) Copher; great grandchildren – Vincent and Silas Hutchison; Daxton Hammond, Tymbar Harding, Rhett Johnson, Bentley Drake and Lane Copher; 3 sisters – Lona Mae Brooks, Gertrude Gould and Judith Ann Cash; a host of nieces, nephews, other relatives and many friends. In addition to his parents, Lawrence was preceded in death by: 2 infant brothers – Allen and Earnest Johnson; 5 brothers – Wilburn, Kenneth, Earl, Billy and Vernie Johnson; 4 sisters – Hazel Vinson, Pauline Webb, Wanda Thurman and Mary Lowery; and 4 great grandchildren – Hunter Hammond, Luke Copher, Stormye Harding and Gaven Harding. A service honoring the life of Lawrence Oliver Johnson will be conducted Saturday afternoon, January 13, 2018, at 1 PM at Bailey Funeral Home in Vienna. Dr. Ron Ferguson will officiate. Burial will be in the New Salem Cemetery near Creal Springs. Visitation will be held Saturday from 11 AM – 1 PM at the funeral home. Memorials are suggested to the family and may be left in care of the funeral home.