Hal R. Johnson
August 3rd, 1936 - August 16th, 2018
From:	Ozark, MO
Visitation:	2:00 pm Friday-Visitation 3:00 pm Friday-Celebration of Life August 24, 2018 James River Church-South Campus 6100 N. 19th ST. Ozark, MO
Funeral:	2:00 pm Saturday August 25, 2018 Many Springs Church Alton, MO
Burial:	Many Springs Cemetery Alton, MO
Hal Rodney Johnson was born August 3, 1936 to Walker and Maude Johnson in Alton, Missouri. He was the youngest of six boys. Hal made a profession of faith as a young man and was born again and baptized in the Eleven Points River. As a man of God, he later went on to serve in many leadership roles in his churches and community. He served as Deacon, Sunday School teacher of young people and old. He was an Optimist and Lion’s Club member, served on the Nursing Home Board, and one of his favorite positions was getting to be involved in sports as a board member for the Missouri State High School Athletic Association Board. In 1954 Hal graduated from Alton High School. Due to his skills on the basketball court at the state tournament, he was offered a full ride scholarship to attend Mizzou - University of Missouri in Columbia. In 1956, Hal married Mary Fern Williams and to this union two children were born: Hal Rodney II and Ronda Fern. Hal was a continual learner achieving a specialist degree in school administration and was always active in sports. In his years in the school system he served as a teacher, coach, counselor, principal and superintendent. He began teaching in a one room school house with 1st through 8th graders at Many Springs, Missouri. His teaching career spanned schools in Alton, West Plains, & Couch. In 1966, God expanded his territory to become a principal at Raymore-Peculiar High School. In 1971, he accepted the position of Superintendent of Schools at Adrian, Missouri. In 1979, Hal became the Superintendent of Schools for Nixa, Missouri where he retired from the MIssouri Public School System in 1988. Retirement brought Hal and Fern closer to their grandchildren near Kansas City where he did part-time work in the school system and also became a REALTOR plus worked in a bank. Hal’s love for sports was passed down to his children and grandchildren. Rodney and Ronda both played basketball in high school. Retirement gave Hal and Fern the freedom to follow their grandchildren in their sports. Ashlie was their first born grandchild whom they enjoyed watching play volleyball, basketball, softball and track. Their grandson, RJ, focused on baseball and they enjoyed traveling to California, Arizona, and Kansas to watch him play. Hal was his grandson Dane’s, first basketball coach at 5 years old in KC. He taught Dane how to shoot the three pointer. Hal and Fern drove 6000 miles in six weeks across the west coast watching their granddaughter, Emily, play volleyball for Gonzaga. Their youngest granddaughter, Kelly, played soccer for Texas Christian University. They were known to be dressed in purple and heading to Fort Worth, Texas for many home games. Combining business, pleasure and his love for Branson, Hal enjoyed managing the Southern Oaks Inn. He thrived in this environment where he could reconnect with old friends. He was a regular attender to almost every show so he could give good feedback to motel guests and get them discounted tickets. In 2005, after Hal’s grandson’s team won the Missouri Valley Conference Tournament in St. Louis, he and Fern relocated to Omaha, Nebraska where they could have reserved seats to all the games Dane played at Creighton University. In 2009, Hal and Fern moved home to Nixa, Missouri. He is survived by his wife, Mary Fern Johnson, children Hal Rodney Johnson II and wife Valerie, daughter, Ronda Fern Watts and husband Mark. The joy of his life were his grandchildren - Ashlie Brevard and husband, Jay, Hal Rodney Johnson III (RJ), Dane Watts and wife, Coco, Emily Johnson and husband, Dan, Kelly Harrell and husband, Blake. Hal was blessed to be actively involved with his four great grandchildren - Ezekiel Watts, Selena Watts, Leonie Fern Watts and Julian Brevard. He also has two living brothers, Irvin and Ben Johnson and many nieces and nephews as well as many other young people Hal and Fern called their own. Visitation will 2:00 pm Friday, August 24, 2018, with a Celebration of Life to follow at 3:00 pm, at the James River Church-South Campus 6100 N. 19th ST., Ozark, MO. Funeral services will be 2:00 pm Saturday August 25, 2018 at the Many Springs Church, Alton, MO with Bro. Bob Wiggs officiating, burial to follow in the Many Springs Cemetery. Arrangements are under the direction of the Clary Funeral Home, Alton, MO. Memorial contributions may be made to the James River Church Mission Fund C/O of Clary Funeral Home PO Box 305 Alton, MO 65606
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