Tommie Carolyn Johnston

After a long battle with Alzheimer’s disease, Tommie Carolyn Johnston, “Granny or Carol”, 88 years of age, was called to her Heavenly home on Thursday, November 4, 2021, at Will-O-Bell nursing home in Bartlett, Texas surrounded by loved ones.

Visitation will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday, November 13 at Providence Funeral Home Chapel in Taylor Texas. Celebration of Life will follow at 11 a.m. Interment will be immediately afterwards at St Peters Cemetery in Coupland, TX.

Carol was born June 18, 1933, in Jacksonville, Texas to the late Thomas Carroll Ballard and Addie Lois Stubbs Ballard. She was the sixth of fifteen children. Carol graduated from Jacksonville High School. She met and married the love of her life, William ‘Bill’ Johnston on August 24, 1951, in Ironton, TX. They were blessed with one child from their union, Carol Lynn Crabb. They moved to Coupland Texas in 1965 as her husband Bill became the principal of the Coupland School. Carol was a licensed vocational nurse (LVN) in Taylor, Texas. She worked at Johns Community Hospital for over 35 years. She truly lived out what she was meant to do as she loved her job and the people she cared for.

She was an active member of the Tenth Street Methodist Church until Alzheimer’s slowly removed her memories. She loved serving God through many different activities. She was a part of the Circle 4 ladies bible group and always donated food to serve after funeral services and really enjoyed visiting shut-ins. She would also go to the quilting group to help sew quilts for the seriously ill or traumatized children.

Carol loved the Lord and read her Bible every day. She also enjoyed reading romances novels and doing crossword puzzles. She collected angels, teapots and loved butterflies. On special occasions she always baked her famous honey cookies for her family and friends. She also spent a lot of time in her garden, and many trips to the flower nursery with her daughter Lynn. She enjoyed her downtime in the simplest ways by spending time with family, laughing, shopping, and snacking as she had quite the sweet tooth. She was a loving and caring person, devoted mother, grandmother, aunt, sister and was always thinking of others first. To know her was to love her.

Preceded in death by parents Thomas Carroll Ballard and Addie Lois Ballard, husband Bill Johnston of 33 years, siblings Katherine Sewall, Belle Yarborough, Tommy Ballard, Jo Hack, Charles Ballard, Margaret McAdams, Hattie Byers, and Linda Chambers.

Carol leaves to cherish her living memory with her daughter, Lynn Crabb, her son in law Robert Crabb, two grandchildren, Robby and wife Rachel, Keith and wife Melissa, and five great-grandchildren, Blake, Cody, Julie, Garrett and Reed. Carol is survived by siblings, Jim Ballard, Eddie Ballard, John Ballard, Lila Whitesides, Larry Ballard, David Ballard, and many nieces and nephews.

Pallbearers: Blake Crabb, Cody Crabb, Garrett Crabb, Reed Crabb, David Ballard, Jody Transier.

Honorary Pallbearers: Jim Ballard, John Ballard, Lila Whitesides

The family would like to thank all the staff at Will-O-Bell for their compassion & excellent caregiving. We would like to say thank you to Hospice and Gentle Transitions in helping care for Carol in her last days. And to all the friends and family that have helped love and care for Mom/Granny through the years. We love you!

In Lieu of flowers Memorial Donations may be made to: Thrall Community Education Foundation (TCEF) or the Alzheimer’s Association.

• Tommie's celebration of life will be livestreamed and accessible via Facebook at: http://www.facebook.com/taylorprovidence