Nona Johnson

Nona V. Johnson, 80 of Amarillo, went Home on Tuesday, September 16, 2014 to be with her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and her husband who preceded in death. Nona, whose death was a surprise to everyone but God, was still a very active woman. On the morning of her stroke, shed taken her beloved dog Lilly for a walk, conversed with some neighbors, and had a meeting with one of her home interior decorating clients on her calendar. Shed begun preparing for a fall Bible study on Isaiah and was making plans for trips to Austin and Portland to see her children and grandchildren. Her life was an encouragement to many as she sought to live out a life that glorified God. Many of her clients told of the beauty she brought into their homes. Neighbors in The Craig retirement community where she lived explained how she was always smiling and encouraging others with thoughtful cards and actions. Her godly life provided a legacy that will endure for her children, grandchildren-to whom she was known as Mom Momand great grandchildren. Nona, born on December 23, 1933 in Friona, Texas, moved to Amarillo as a child and attended McKinley Elementary School. Although she left school by eight grade to raise help raise her younger brothers and sisters, she went back to school as an adult to obtain a GED. She met her husband, a handsome young Marine named Fredric Arthur Johnson, while working at the Blackstone Caf as a waitress. They were married January 29, 1950 in Clovis, New Mexico. The Johnsons attended San Jacinto Methodist church for many years before beginning to attend Grace Community Church in the 1980s and then Evangelical Fellowship in 2005. Nona and her family have been extremely grateful for the warm, loving and servant-hearted folks in her church family in Amarillo. Nona worked at Sears initially as a retail clerk in the 1960s before moving to the advertising department. Her creativity and hard-work earned her a promotion to a fashion buyer for Sears southern region that generated a move to Dallas in 1977. About a year later, Nona determined that family was more important to her than her career and moved back to Amarillo with her husband. In the years that followed, she worked at Nunn Electric, McKelvys Furniture and The Sound Room where she began picking up the home interior decorating skills that fit in so naturally with the creative gifts God had given her. She first partnered with Sheila House in a home interior decorating business, and then started her own business, Nona Johnson & Associates by opening a retail business located at 807 S. Georgia, and then moving her business into her home when her husbands health began declining. She was a member of the American Society of Interior Decorators and served a stint as the Amarillo chapter chairperson. Nona knew Jesus promise in John 14:1-3 to be true: "Do not let your heart be troubled; believe in God, believe also in Me. In My Father's house are many dwelling places; if it were not so, I would have told you; for I go to prepare a place for you. If I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself, that where I am, there you may be also. She is survived by a daughter, Lori Naylor of Round Rock; a son, Rick Johnson of Portland, Oregon; two sisters, Nelda Fritz of Atlanta, Georgia and Nevelle Vess of Dallas; a brother, Neil Cross of Houston; three grandchildren, Amanda Chavez of Portland, Benjamin Naylor of Budapest, Hungary, and Alexandra Johnson of Portland; four great-grandchildren, William Johnson of Portland, Jackson Chavez of Portland, Grant Naylor of Budapest, and Henry Naylor (born 9/14/2014) of Budapest; a son-in-law, Jay Naylor of Round Rock; a daughter-in-law, Mary Jane Johnson of Portland; a granddaughter-in-law, Megan Naylor of Budapest; and a grandson-in-law, Jacob Chavez of Portland. A graveside service is being held at Memory Gardens, 14200 Interstate 27 in Amarillo on Friday, September 19 at 10 a.m. A Celebration of Life service will be held at the church Nona faithfully attended, Evangelical Fellowship, 5000 SW 49th Ave in Amarillo on Friday, September 19 at 1 p.m. The family suggest memorial donations to either United World Mission on behalf of Nonas grandson Ben Naylor and his wife Megan who are missionaries in Hungary, Evangelical Fellowship church or your favorite charity.