TEXICO, Ill. — Paul E. Johnson, 72, of Texico, passed away at 4:39 p.m., Tuesday, November 1, 2023, at St. Louis University Hospital, in St. Louis, Missouri.
He was born September 13, 1951, in Chicago Heights, Illinois, the son of Ivan and Flora (Ferris) Johnson. On May 25, 1985, at the First Baptist Church, in Christopher, Illinois, he married Diane Curry, and she survives.
Mr. Johnson served as a police officer with the Mt. Vernon Police Department for many years, and later worked as a licensed funeral director and embalmer, for Service Corporation International, in Peoria, Illinois, and Keystone, in West Salem, Illinois. He later opened his own embalming service, Precise Services, Incorporated. He was a 32nd Degree Mason, and York Rite member, and member of Mt. Vernon Masonic Lodge #31, A.F. and A.M., as well as the Southern Illinois Valley Ainad Shrine. He was also a member of the Mt. Vernon Elks, Mt. Vernon Sportsman’s Club, and Goshen Trail Longrifle Club. He was a member of Howard Chapel Church, where he served as a deacon, and later attended services at Panther Fork Missionary Baptist Church.
In addition to his wife, Diane Curry Johnson, of Texico, he is survived by daughters, Melanie Garth and significant other Sean Nattier of Roxana, Illinois, and Heather Bloom-Ellis and husband Branden of Texico, Illinois; son, Jeremy Johnson of Belle Rive, Illinois; seven grandchildren, Zachary Johnson, McKenna Buchanan, Derek Bloom-Ellis, Austin Nattier, Christopher Johnson, Damian Bloom-Ellis, and Greysen Bloom-Ellis; brother, Kevin Johnson and wife Roselyn of Mt. Vernon; brother-in-law, Joe Davis of Benton, Illinois; and several nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents; infant son, Carl Johnson; sister, Vera Richards; brother, Eddie Johnson; infant brother, Alan Johnson; sister-in-law, Janet Davis; and son-in-law, Andy Garth.
Funeral Services for Mr. Johnson will be held at 1:00 p.m., Tuesday, November 7, 2023, at Osborn Funeral Home in Dix. Burial will follow at Kirk Cemetery, in Ina, Illinois. Visitation will be held Tuesday, November 7, 2023, from 11:00 a.m. until the time of service, at the funeral home. Memorial gifts may be made to Family Life Shelter, or to the Park Avenue Food Pantry, and will be accepted at the service, or by mail to the Osborn Funeral Home, P.O. Box 130, Dix, Illinois 62830. Online condolences may be made at www.osbornfuneral.com, or on the Osborn Funeral Home Facebook page.