Earl Lavone Johnson, Jr.

Earl Lavone Johnson, Jr.

Earl Lavone Johnson, Jr., 79, Nevada, Mo., passed away on Saturday, Feb. 20, 2021 at Nevada Regional Medical Center in Nevada. Earl was born Feb. 15, 1942 in Fort Scott, Kan., to Earl L. and Lillian M. (Tucker) Johnson. He married Beverly Hurd in 1960 and to this union three daughters and one son was born, Twila, Sherry, Kelly, and Steve. In 1976, he married Bonnie Poe and together they had two children, Penny, and Earl III. He married Wanda (Brown) LeeMasters on Aug. 6, 1981 in Miami, Okla., and to this marriage she brought three sons, Sam, Brian, and Justin.

Earl was raised in the Fort Scott area and attended school there. While in his 20s, Earl enjoyed racing cars in the Ft Scott area, participating in pony pulls, he loved attending rodeos as well as riding rodeo bulls, and was an avid coon hunter, having acquired many trophies for his hunting dogs. He loved hunting as well as fishing. In 1973, he graduated from Auctioneer School in Kansas City and returned to Fort Scott where he owned and operated several antique stores in Kansas and in Missouri. He also owned Circle J. Saddle and Western Store in Nevada from 1991-1993. In 2002, Earl built a shop at his farm and operated his saddle business from his home. He raised livestock throughout his life as well. While in his 30s, Earl became a Christian and was currently a member of the First Baptist Church in Nevada.

In addition to his wife Wanda of the home, he is survived by six children, Twila Russell, Fort Scott, Kan., Sherry Johnson, Fort Scott, Kan., Kelly Black, Fort Scott, Kan., Steve Johnson, Fort Scott, Kan., Penny Lowry, Nevada, and Earl Johnson, III, Nevada; three stepsons, Sam LeeMasters, (Jolene), Lamar, Mo., Brian LeeMasters (Danelle), Nixa, Mo., Justin LeeMasters, (Becky), El Dorado Springs, Mo.; numerous grandchildren, and great-grandchildren; two sisters, Patricia Love, Fort Scott, Kan., Debbie Allen (Jerry), Fort Scott, Kan.; numerous nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents; one sister, Bertha Long; two brothers, Charles Johnson and Michael Johnson; he was also preceded in death by his mother and father-in-law, Charles and Virginia Brown.

Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 24, 2021 at Ferry Funeral Home in Nevada with Rev. Ray Adams officiating. Interment will follow in Mt. Pleasant Cemetery in Dederick, Mo. Friends may call now and until the hour of service at the funeral home.

Memorials are suggested in his memory to the El Dorado Christian School in care of Ferry Funeral Home.

Those in attendance will be asked to maintain social distancing and are asked to wear face masks to protect themselves and others.