Mary Juanita Johnson

Mary Juanita (Ratliff) Johnson, 93 years of age, passed away Monday, January 15, 2024, at the Focused Care of Ft. Stockton.

Juanita was the youngest of 5 children born to Bertha Mabel Cox Ratliff and James Brown Ratliff in Glasscock County, Texas on December 21, 1930. She grew up and attended Garden City Schools.  Juanita played basketball, volleyball and was on the cheer squad. She graduated from Garden City High School in 1948 and attended Sol Ross before transferring to Texas Tech. During college, she majored in business and was a member of the DFD social club. Juanita met and married her husband of 69 years, Richard Johnson, while attending Tech. Their first home was in Aspermont, Texas. Then, they moved to the Garden City area while Richard farmed for several years. She was an excellent cook and loved cooking for family and friends. As business opportunities arose, the family moved to Clovis, New Mexico and then on to Ft. Stockton where she made many genuine life-long friends. Her hobbies included playing tennis, cooking, collecting recipes and antique shopping. She was a faithful member of the Ft. Stockton Church of Christ for over 50 years assisting with many of the ladies’ activities and helping make meals for families in need. Twenty of those years, she served as coordinator for the church’s Christmas Basket program for widows, shut-ins and others in the community. Because Christmas was her favorite time of the year, she loved sharing and opening her home on the hometown Christmas tour.  She was a devoted wife to Richard and accompanied him on many of his long-distance business trips throughout Texas.  Together they enjoyed traveling and sight-seeing in Utah, Colorado and New Mexico though her most treasured trips were spent with family and friends to Alaska, Hawaii and Switzerland. As much as she loved traveling, coming home to the ”Great State of Texas” made her the happiest.   Juanita loved watching many sports; tennis, basketball, and football - especially Texas Tech, the Dallas Cowboys and lately the Kansas City Chiefs. She was preceded in death by both of her parents; husband: Richard Johnson of Ft. Stockton, Texas; three brothers:  J.B. Ratliff Jr. of Ft. Stockton, Texas; Lester Ratliff of Big Lake, Texas; Derwood Ratliff of Midland, Texas; sister, Roberta Ratliff Reynolds of San Angelo, Texas and son-in-law, Kyle Watson of Fair Oaks Ranch, Texas.  She is survived by her children: son, Timothy Richard Johnson and wife Kathie of Carrollton, Texas; daughter, Julie Lynne (Johnson) Watson of Fair Oaks Ranch, Texas. Grandchildren; Cassie Lynne (Watson) Burch and husband Coleton, Whitney Rene (Johnson) Westbrook and husband Aaron, Candice Rae (Watson) Ramirez and husband Joel, and Tyler Reese Johnson. Her great-grandchildren: Grayson, Gage, Gentry and Graham Westbrook, Zoey Ramirez and Brooks Burch.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to: Ft. Stockton Church of Christ 2100 W. 16^th St. Ft. Stockton, Texas. 

The family of Juanita wishes to extend our sincere thanks to her friend/caregiver, Mary Fabbri and the staff of Focused Care of Ft. Stockton and so many loyal friends.