Louis Johnson

DOGWOOD, Mo. — Louis Burnett Johnson, age 83, of Dogwood and formerly of Festus, Missouri, passed away Thursday, Sept. 28, 2023, at Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center in Poplar Bluff, Missouri

He was born Feb. 7, 1940, in St. Louis, Missouri, to the late Burnett Jefferson Johnson and Blanche I. Stevenson Johnson. The family moved from St. Louis to the farm in Southeast Missouri on Sugar Tree Ridge in January of 1945. Louis resided there with his family until his high school graduation and then entered the United States Air Force at the young age of 17. He became an air traffic controller for the Air Force and served three-and-a-half years in France.

On Oct. 25, 1966, Louis married the love of his life, Ella Mae McCarty-Dillon, who preceded him in death Jan. 2, 2017. They were married over 50 years before her passing.

Louis was employed for 28 years by General Motors Corporation in Wentzville, Missouri.  He retired early in life and lived the next 32 years enjoying life immensely. He and Ella Mae were members of The Second Baptist Church in Festus. Once Louis retired, they became even more involved in church ministry and Louis served his church by becoming an ordained deacon of Second Baptist. He loved his church family. He was an avid Cardinals fan and always enjoyed solving puzzles in the St. Louis Post-Dispatch newspaper. He loved fishing from the time he was a young boy.

Survivors include his only sibling, Carol McCormack of Dogwood; three stepchildren, Rick Dillon of Bertrand, Missouri, Sandra Christian of East Prairie, Missouri, and Tom Dillon of Festus; and one stepgranddaughter, Jodie Seek. Louis also leaves behind several cousins to cherish his memory.

In addition to his parents and wife, he was preceded in death by one stepdaughter, LaDonna Beck.

Visitation will be held Sunday, Oct. 1, 2023, beginning at noon until time of funeral service at 1 p.m. at Shelby Funeral Home with Brother Martin Lucas and Brother Alex Lukefahr officiating.

Interment will follow in Dogwood Cemetery.

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Memorial contributions may be sent to: Second Baptist Church, 723 Horine Road, Festus, MO  63028.