Durwood D. Johnson, 81, of Rose City, died Wednesday, December 1, 2010, at Baptist Hospitals of Southeast Texas, Beaumont. A native and lifelong resident of the area, he was born May 23, 1929, to Lena (Young) and Donald Durwood Johnson.
He retired in 1983 from Port Neches-Groves High School as a teacher and counselor after twenty-five years of service. Prior to that, he taught at Vidor High School. He was a horticulturalist and landscape designer. Johnson served our country overseas as an Army Military Police. His hobbies included skiing with the Neches Ski Club for many years and flying his own plane. Johnson was on the board of directors of the Mid-County Teachers Credit Union for thirty years.
He is survived by his wife, Johnnie Johnson of Rose City; daughter, Debra Cecile Byrd and her husband Jerald of Jonesborough, Tennessee; son, Durwood Dee Johnson of Canyon Lake, California; stepchildren, Budd Godkin, Diane Godkin, Darla Duhon and her husband Buddy, and Clarke Godkin and his wife Keesha; grandchildren, Jacadi Bignami and her husband Sean, Cali Johnson, Caleb Johnson, Dylan Duhon, Mallory Duhon, Tori Godkin and Alexcis Godkin; sister, Reba Shelander; and niece, Donna Glach and her husband Bobby of Lumberton.
Durwood is preceded in death by his parents and his first wife, Tappy Johnson Barnett.
Serving as pallbearers are Dylan Duhon, Caleb Johnson, Buddy Duhon, Jerald Byrd, Ted Westmoreland, Gary Bridges and Cal Smith.
His graveside service will be 2:00 p.m., Sunday, December 5, 2010, at Forest Lawn Memorial Park under the direction of Broussard’s, 1605 North Major Drive, Beaumont. A gathering of his family and friends will be from 4:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m., Saturday, December 4, 2010 at Broussard’s.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Boy’s Haven of America, Inc. P.O. Box 5815, Beaumont, Texas 77726 or to the organization of one’s choice.
