Lucille Mary Johnson

Lucille LaBue Johnson, a longtime resident of Abilene and Horseshoe Bay, died peacefully on May 3, 2010, in Austin, Texas. A Memorial Mass will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Friday, May 7, 2010, at Holy Family Catholic Church in Abilene, with the Msgr. Fred Nawarskas officiating, directed by The Hamil Family Funeral Home, 6449 Buffalo Gap Road in Abilene. Interment of cremains will follow in the Garden of Memories Cemetery. The family will receive friends at the home of Frank and Rebecca Johnson following the service. Lucille Mary LaBue was born to Joseph and Mary LaBue in DeRidder, Louisiana, on October 12, 1921. The oldest daughter of Italian born parents, Lucille grew up a proud and outgoing shining star, a talented musician and songstress. She was crowned "The Songbird of DeRidder High," a deserved honor that nonetheless gave her children and friends much delight in which to tease Mom. Her sharp mind and hard work took her to Shreveport Charity Hospital School of Nursing where she earned her R.N. degree and later became the nursing supervisor both there and at the North Louisiana Hospital. The story of how she met her husband of 66 years, Dr. Dale F. Johnson, became a family legend. He was a young intern at the Shreveport Hospital and needed vaccinations before starting his internship. Because she was instantly impressed by this good-looking and kind young man, she arranged for him to get the first round from her, knowing he would have to return for the second and third rounds, seeing her again. And it worked! Shortly later they were married and shared one of the most loving and enviable marriages in our lifetime. At the age of 21, shortly after Dale was stationed overseas during World War II, she left all she had ever known and moved to West Texas to be near his family so they could help care for her and their two daughters. When he returned, they lived in Loraine where Dale practiced medicine with his brother, Dr. Bruce Johnson, for four and a half years. After a short stint in Dallas where Dale completed his pediatric training at the Texas Children Hospital, they moved their family to Abilene where they lived for the next 29 years. During that time Lucille thrived like only she could do. She was very active in the Abilene community by serving as president of the Taylor-Jones Medical Auxiliary, president of the Sacred Heart Woman's Altar Society, a member of the Junior League of Abilene and Austin, the Abilene Woman's Club and the Thursday Forum Study Club. She volunteered her nursing skills at low-income clinics and in the Abilene schools. Through her generous actions, she instilled in her children the belief that they should give back to their communities, as she had always done. Lucille enjoyed a fine reputation of being a fabulous cook and hostess. She treated her dinner and bridge clubs to her wonderful Louisiana cooking, serving West Texans with Shrimp Creole and Gumbo and her famous Crawfish Etouffe'. After Dr. Dale's retirement, they moved to Horseshoe Bay, Texas, where she again demonstrated her strong and gracious spirit. She was very active in the St. Paul Catholic Church, was a co-leader of the Ecumenical Ladies Bible Study Group for 16 years, and she also served as the only woman on the board that was responsible for bringing Scott and White Clinic to Horseshoe Bay. One of the accomplishments of which she was most proud was learning to play golf at age 66. She joined the HSB Women's Golf Association, making many dear friends through the camaraderie of the sport. Their joyful group of Horseshoe Bay friends was also famous for their theme parties. Imagine Dale and Lucille along with dear friends performing as California Raisins! To her grandchildren, these were some of the most special times spent with their Nana and Granddad. Riding in the golf cart with Nana was both an adventure and as exciting as a theme park ride as she was hell on wheels in that cart. As Mom and Dad often said, their days at Horseshoe Bay were some of the best and happiest years of their lives. Lucille was the consummate Southern lady - elegant, gracious, and possessor of strong faith and character. She was a woman of impeccable values, which we trust will continue through the lives of those who love her. Lucille is fondly remembered for both her strength and her propriety. She will also be remembered for her beauty, generosity, incredible strength and her lively attitude. She never failed to rise to every occasion, a trait exhibited even at the end of her life. Her life was truly marked by the richness of her friendships and the enduring love of her family. Lucille was preceded in death by her husband, Dr. Dale F. Johnson, daughter Patricia Jan Johnson, her parents Joseph and Mary LaBue, and brother, Salvadore LaBue. She leaves behind her children Carol Ann Strickland and husband Steve, Ginger Sanda, Frank Johnson and wife Rebecca, along with grandchildren Mark Strickland, Kevin Strickland, Meghan Sanda, Kristen Rudd Villavicencio and husband Steven, Emily Rudd Cayton and husband Jordan, Bobby Johnson, and great granddaughter Taylor Strickland. She is also survived by her sister, Pat Averette Nichols and her brother Joseph LaBue and many nieces and nephews. Memorials may be sent to Hospice Abilene, Holy Family Catholic Church, West Texas Rehab Center, Odyssey Hospice-Austin, or St. John's Episcopal School in Abilene. There are not enough words to convey our profound appreciation to all of the doctors, nurses, hospice teams, the wonderful help and caring staff both at Windcrest and Park Bend Health Care Centers, and to her many friends for their faithful love and dedication to her care. Her life was made infinitely more joyful and comfortable as a result of their companionship.