Earl L Johnson

     Earl Lavone Johnson, Jr., 79, Nevada, MO passed away on Saturday, February 20, 2021 at Nevada Regional Medical Center in Nevada.  Earl was born February 15, 1942 in Ft. Scott, KS to Earl L. and Lillian M. (Tucker) Johnson.  He married Beverly Hurd in 1960 and to this union three daughters and one son was born, Twila, Sherry, Kelly, and Steve. In 1976 he married Bonnie Poe and together they had two children, Penny, and Earl III.  He married Wanda (Brown) LeeMasters on August 6, 1981 in Miami, OK and to this marriage she brought three sons, Sam, Brian, and Justin. 

     Earl was raised in the Ft. Scott area and attended school there.  While in his 20’s, Earl enjoyed racing cars in the Ft Scott area, participating in pony pulls, he loved attending rodeo’s as well as riding rodeo bulls, and was an avid coon hunter, having acquired many trophies for his hunting dogs. He loved hunting as well as fishing. In 1973 he graduated from Auctioneer School in Kansas City and returned to Ft. Scott where he owned and operated several antique stores in Kansas and in Missouri. He also owned Circle J. Saddle and Western Store in Nevada from 1991 – 1993. In 2002, Earl built a shop at his farm and operated his saddle business from his home. He raised livestock throughout his life as well. While in his 30’s, Earl became a Christian and was currently a member of the First Baptist Church in Nevada.

     In addition to his wife Wanda of the home, he is survived by six children, Twila Russell, Ft. Scott, KS Sherry Johnson, Ft. Scott, KS, Kelly Black, Ft. Scott, KS, Steve Johnson, Ft. Scott, KS, Penny Lowry, Nevada,and Earl Johnson, III, Nevada; three step-sons, Sam LeeMasters, (Jolene), Lamar, MO,  Brian LeeMasters (Danelle), Nixa, MO, Justin LeeMasters, (Becky), El Dorado Springs, MO; numerous grandchildren, and great-grandchildren; two sisters, Patricia Love, Ft. Scott, KS, Debbie Allen (Jerry), Ft. Scott, KS; numerous nieces and nephews.  He was preceded in death by his parents; one sister, Bertha Long; two brothers, Charles Johnson and Michael Johnson; he was also preceded in death by his mother and father-in- law, Charles and Virginia Brown.

        Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Wednesday, February 24, 2021 at Ferry Funeral Home in Nevada with Rev. Ray Adams officiating. Interment will follow in Mt. Pleasant Cemetery in Dederick, MO. Friends may call now and until the hour of service at the funeral home.

     Memorials are suggested in his memory to the El Dorado Christian School c/o Ferry Funeral Home.  

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