Raymond Johnson

Raymond H. Johnson, 92, died of congestive heart failure on October 31, 2008 at the Groves Community Hospice in Independence, Missouri.
Raymond was born on September 12, 1916 in Wright Township, Michigan. After graduation from high school in 1935, he moved with his parents to Southern Missouri, where he and his dad cleared brush and swamp land to plant cotton --now rich farmland along the Mississippi River. Over the years he took many jobs, including helping to build Fort Leonard Wood and working the wheat harvests starting in Oklahoma, working north to South Dakota.
While in Kennett, Missouri, he met and married Ruby (Mabel) Dobson and shortly thereafter the couple settled in Independence. During WWII he worked as a millwright at the bomber plant in Fairfax. Shortly after he was drafted into the armed forces, he broke an eardrum and was sent home to recover; the war ended before he could be recalled.
In 1943 he became a member of the Carpenter’s union and worked as a Construction Superintendent for Phil Weeks, Irwin Fender, Callahan and Maxwell Construction companies, which built many buildings in the Independence area including the additions to the Independence Regional Hospital and the historic Jackson County Jail. His last job before retiring in 1981 was building the Town Center in downtown Kansas City, Missouri.
During their retirement Ray and Ruby spent much time at their cabin at the Lake of the Ozarks and volunteering their time to the RLDS’s Laurel Club. Ray and Ruby were life long members of the now Community of Christ Church and attended the Stone Church, East Alton and the Ridgewood congregations.
He is preceded in death by his wife Ruby, granddaughter Marcia, brother Paul, and half brother Ernie. He is survived by his children Patricia Davis of Independence, Douglas Johnson of Independence, Frederick Johnson of Kansas City, Robert Johnson of Laredo Texas, six grandchildren and 5 great grand children.