Jessie
Mae Johnston was born July 12, 1928, to Annie Valerie Romere and Abel Leonard
Ledet. She was proud of her Cajun
ancestry and her Catholic heritage.
Jessie Mae grew up in South Park and graduated from St. Anthony School
where she participated in the band and was a cheerleader. She received all her
sacraments throughout her life at St. Anthony Cathedral and always felt a
special connection with her classmates and her church family.
Jessie
Mae married her neighbor from down the street, Archie Johnston, and pursued her
most serious vocation: loving wife and
mother. Archie was employed as an
electrician in the oil fields with Sun Pipe Line. Jessie Mae worked as the ultimate homemaker,
providing love to the growing family, which would number seven children, 16
grandchildren, and 19 great-grandchildren.
Jessie
Mae was the true epitome of a saintly matriarch and
reigned with unfailing love, dedication and grace. Her cooking skills rivaled the best
chefs. Her specialty was comfort food,
and it was always bounteous and served with a smile. Jessie Mae enjoyed doing daily crossword
puzzles in ink, watching the Wheel of Fortune, keeping up with family on
Facebook, watching sports- especially the Astros, and family time at the
beach. She is remembered as the moral
anchor of the family.
Jessie
Mae is survived by her children, Judi C. Benoit and her husband, Ronnie, of
China; Rick M. Johnston and his wife, Cathy, of Sour Lake; Tommy D. Johnston of
Beaumont; David B. Johnston and his wife, Ruthann, of Longview; Keith R.
Johnston and his wife, Robin, of Lumberton; and Jill P. Alborn and her husband,
Matt, of Cypress: granddaughters Carol Albrecht, Amanda Burkhalter, Judy
Peterson, Sarah Johnston, Jessica Johnston Padia, Meg Johnston, Kindell
Johnston, and Lauren Johnston; grandsons, Ryan Johnston, Aaron Johnston, Chuck
Benoit, Justin Johnston, Michael Johnston, Reuben Johnston, Eric Alborn and
Adam Alborn; and 19 great- grandchildren; brother, Dale A. Ledet and his wife,
Dianne, of Houston; brother-in-law, Jerry Colichia of Port Arthur.
She
is preceded in death by her parents; husband of sixty-eight years, Archie L.
Johnston; son, Robert Archie Johnston; brother, L.J. Ledet, and sister, Maxine
Colichia.
A
Rosary for Mrs. Johnston will be recited at 5:00 p.m., with visitation to
follow at 5:30 p.m., Monday, November 2, 2015, at Broussard’s, 1605 North Major
Drive, Beaumont. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11:00 a.m.,
Tuesday, November 3, 2015, at Our Lady of Victory Catholic Church, 225 West
Barkley, Sour Lake, with interment to follow at Rosedale Cemetery, Sour Lake.
Memorial
contributions may be made to Our Lady of Victory Catholic Church, P.O. Box
1359, Sour Lake, Texas 77659; or to Harbor Hospice, 2450 North Major Drive,
Beaumont, Texas 77713.
The
family would like to express a special loving thank you to two caregivers, Anita
Harris and Joyce Thompson, the Harbor Hospice Staff for their kind and
compassionate care and to Father Martin Nelson for his spiritual support.
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