Clifford Ray Johnson

Clifford Ray Johnson April 22, 1931 November 23, 2014 Clifford Ray Johnson, 83, of Waco, loving husband, father and grandfather, passed away peacefully surrounded by his family on November 23, 2014. Services will be at 12 noon, Wednesday, November 26, at Crestview Church of Christ, with Dr. Jim Martin, Tom Catchings, and Scott Pearson officiating. Burial with full military honors will follow at Oakwood Cemetery. Visitation will begin at 6:00 p.m., Tuesday, November 25, at Wilkirson-Hatch-Bailey. Clifford was born April 22, 1931, in Hico, Texas to Hubert and Birtie Hicks Johnson. He enlisted in the United States Air Force in 1950 at the age of 19. He traveled the country and the world while serving in the Air Force; his stops included Jamaica, England, Saudi Arabia, Thailand, Puerto Rico, Washington, DC, and Alaska. Among his favorite assignments was serving on the Presidential Unit at Andrews Air Force Base, where he scheduled flight crews for Air Force One and Air Force Two. Clifford met the love of his life, Rita G. Boyett, while stationed at James Connally Air Force Base in Waco; they married May 4, 1956. They had three sons Dennis, Keith and Russell. Clifford retired from the Air Force in 1973, with almost 23 years of active duty service, with the rank of Senior Master Sergeant. He then moved to Waco, where he worked at the Veterans Administration for eight years and Hercules Inc. for 11 years. He retired from Hercules in 1993. He was an active member of Crestview Church of Christ, where he worked in the food pantry, helping to feed the needy. He was preceded in death by his parents and a sister, Joy Hornbeak. Clifford is survived by his wife of more than 58 years, Rita Boyett Johnson; sons Dennis and wife Linda of Grand Isle, Louisiana; Keith and wife Jeanie of Robinson; Russell and wife Kristi of Missouri City; grandsons Austin Johnson and wife Jodien of Atlanta, Georgia; Drew and Tyler Johnson of Waco; Cliff and Jake Johnson of Missouri City; granddaughters Jennifer Jackson and husband Brian of Hewitt; and Amanda Belisle and husband Seth of San Diego, California. He is also survived by a brother, James Russell Johnson of North Richland Hills; and sister Katy Pribble and husband Dee of Colorado; and numerous nieces and nephews. Pallbearers are Austin Johnson, Drew Johnson, Tyler Johnson, Cliff Johnson, Jake Johnson, Seth Belisle, Brian Jackson, and Don Hardwick. Honorary pallbearers are Christopher R. Grant, M.D., Kyle Pearson, and Eddie Wilson. The family would like to thank Dr. Christopher Grant and the hospice staff and nurses at Baylor Scott & White Hillcrest Medical Center. Memorials may be made to the Community Care Food Pantry, Crestview Church of Christ, 7129 Delhi Road, Waco, Texas 76712, or the memorial of the donor's choice. The family invites you to leave a message or memory in our "Memorial Guestbook" at www.WHBfamily.com.