Homer Johnson

Homer Lloyd Johnson went home to be with the Lord on September 23, 2022.  He was born on February 15, 1933, in Taylor, Texas.  His grandparents immigrated to Texas from Sweden.  They, along with several other families, established the New Sweden Community in Coupland.

Homer grew up on his family farm (still farmed today) where he picked cotton, pulled corn, chopped Johnson grass and played games and sports with his friends well into the evening.   He was a member of New Sweden Lutheran church and had perfect attendance from 1938-1950.

He attended Carlson School from grades 1-5 where his Aunt Early was his teacher. Homer later attended school in Elgin where he graduated from Elgin High School in 1950 as Salutatorian.  There he lettered 2 years in basketball, 3 years in baseball (with a .462 batting average) and played shortstop for the Wildcat State Championship Team.  He ended high school with a Senior Trip in 1950 where he visited 22 states and Niagara Falls.  The entire trip cost $40.00 and sparked his love of travel that lasted throughout his life.  He went on to graduate from Nixon-Clay College where his father attended in the 1920s with a degree in accounting.

Homer worked in Houston for Phillips Petroleum Company until he was drafted into the U.S. Army in 1952.  He married Georgia Belle Frazier in 1953 and they had one daughter, Debra, while stationed at Ft. Bliss in El Paso, TX.  Later he worked for Southern Pacific Railroad until 1959 when he went to work for Rainhart Co., a manufacturer of testing equipment for highway departments worldwide until his retirement in 2002. His marriage to Georgia Belle ended in 1978 and in 1979 he met Kay Rogers Shinkle on a blind date in Austin where they both drove up in their VW Bugs.  They married in 1980 and the rest is history.

Homer was always the life of the party.  He loved to laugh, dance and regularly hosted and attended get togethers in his community.

Some of his favorite past times were gardening on his family farm that he did well into his 80s, playing dominoes, which he did for over 60 years, bowling, spending time on the Llano River and watching UT Longhorn football.  He rarely let a day go by without Dr. Pepper or Blue Bell Ice Cream.  He also was a member of Providence Presbyterian Church for many years where he served as a faithful Deacon.

Homer’s unwavering devotion to God, family, friends and country was a wonderful example of how to live for all who knew him.

Homer was preceded in death by his parents, Hazel and Eric Johnson; and his sister Gloria.

He is survived by his loving wife of 42 years, Kay Johnson; daughter, Debra Akard and husband Mike; son, Patrick Shinkle and wife Tracey; granddaughter, Jessica Oney and husband Tom; grandson, Garrett Shinkle and wife Stephanie; two granddaughters, Addison Singh and husband Manny and Sydney Shinkle; six great-grandchildren, Grace Oney, Grant Oney, Michael Oney, Harper Shinkle, Walker Shinkle and Barron Singh.

The family would like to extend their deepest appreciation for the loving care Homer received during his last days from the nurses and staff at Buckner Villas and Hospice Austin.

A Celebration of Homer's life will be conducted at Providence Presbyterian Church of Pflugerville, Tuesday, October 4th at 11:00 AM with Pastor Robert Canode presiding.  A Repast will follow the service in the fellowship hall in Homer's honor.  Interment will follow at New Sweden Cemetery at 2:00 PM.