Dorothea Johnson

On April 3, 2022, family and friends lost a dear one at the age of 95, when Dorothea Johnson died at home surrounded by family.  Dorothea was born to Peter and Ellie Joyal in Lynchburg, Virginia, on March 6, 1927.  The family moved to Norman when she was 2 years old, and she has lived here since then.  Graduating from Norman High School, she attended The University of Oklahoma (OU), majoring in art, but family matters caused her to leave OU early and work in the Norman office of Southwestern Bell Telephone Co.

Dorothea met her husband, Ken, on a blind date in 1959, and they married six weeks later.  She helped support Ken through graduate school at OU and raised three great children: Lisa, David, and Mark.  Once the kids were old enough, she and Ken traveled widely on vacations and on his geologic excursions and lecturing trips around the world.  She visited about 80 different countries with Ken, and also ventured onto all seven continents.  In Norman, she was known to some as “Sweetie Pie” (S.P.), an affectionate name given by the family.

Dorothea was a lover of dogs and almost all other animals.  She continued her love of art and music: she sculpted at Firehouse Art Center and was an active supporter of the OU Music Theater and Opera Guild. Dorothea was an avid fan of OU sports, and was an active member of: St. John’s Episcopal Church in Norman; the Geologists Wives Association of Oklahoma City; and was a Sister in the BP Chapter of P.E.O.

Dorothea’s included photos are when she married (1959) and during a trip to the Galapagos Islands (2011).

Dorothea was preceded in death by her parents, Peter and Ellie Joyal; her sister, Lillian Drake; and her nephew Brian Drake.  She is survived by her husband of 62 years, Ken of Norman; children, Lisa Johnson and husband Frank Jasa of Los Angeles, California, David Johnson of El Paso, Texas, and Mark Johnson and wife Lori Lovejoy of Leesburg, Virginia; grandchildren, Joshua and Nolan Lovejoy of Leesburg, Virginia; niece, Susan Drake of Tulsa, Oklahoma; and sisters-in-law, Barbara Fell-Johnson of Easthampton, Massachusetts, and Erica Johnson of Winter Springs, Florida.

Appreciation is expressed to Heartland Hospice, in Shawnee, and to care-givers, Jawanai (Jo) Baggett and Rebecca King, in Norman, for loving care given to Dorothea.

A Memorial Service for Dorothea is planned for 10:00 am on Wednesday, May 18, 2022, at St John’s Episcopal Church, 235 W. Duffy St., Norman.  All friends and acquaintances are welcome to attend.  For those who cannot attend, say a prayer, have a thought, or recall an event related to Dorothea at about 10:00 am on May 18th.  She will be interred in St. John’s columbarium.

In lieu of flowers, consider a donation in her name to St. John’s Episcopal Church Foundation, P.O. Box 2088, Norman, OK 73070, or to an animal-welfare agency of your choice.