Martha Leola Johnson

Martha Leola “Mema” Johnson of Abilene, Texas passed away on May 3, 2015 in her home. Visitation will be 6 to 8 pm Thursday, May 7, 2015 at The Hamil Family Funeral Home, 6449 Buffalo Gap Road in Abilene. Funeral services will be held at 2 pm, Friday, May 8, 2015 at The Hamil Family Funeral Home with the Reverend David Cason officiating. Burial will follow in Elmwood Memorial Park. Leola was born near Cisco, Texas to John Glenn Callaway and Myrtle Gertrude Callaway on June 12, 1926. She was married to Hubert Granvil Johnson for 46 years. She worked as a seamstress at a local custom drapery company for a number of years. She was an active member of Caps Baptist Church for most of her adult life. She was an accomplished artisan, creating breathtaking arts and crafts, including ceramics, basketweaving, painting, and a wide variety of other mediums. Her adventurous spirit was exemplified when she captured rattlesnakes, which she skinned, tanned, and made into belts for many of her grandsons. Leola was preceded in death by her parents, her daughter Donna Gay Burton, her granddaughter, Krystal Lynn Laramore, and two brothers, Floyd R. Callaway and James W. Callaway. Leola is survived by three daughters, Carolyn Jean Johnson, Sherryl Lynn Johnson, and Nita Ruth Brewer; her sister, Glenda Ann Callaway; a son-in-law, James R. Burton and granddaughter/caregiver Teri Burton. She is further survived by 13 grandchildren, 18 great-grandchildren, one great-great-grandchild (with another on the way), who were the light of her life. Pallbearers will be grandsons and great-grandsons: Dennis Anderson, Robert Burton, Tim Smith, Randy Burton, Brandon Smith and Andrew Converse. The family of Leola wishes to extend our thanks for the prayers, support and kindnesses we have and are receiving. Memorials may be given to Meals on Wheels Plus, Inc. P O Box 903, Abilene, TX 79604.