Matthew Johnston

Matthew Mitchell Johnston passed away Tuesday, October 28, 2008. Mr. Johnston was a resident of Jackson County, MO for more than 84 years. Matthew was born June 9, 1921 in Hereford, TX. His parents were Matthew Almanzer Johnston and Isabelle Carley Johnston. Matthew’s parents moved to Missouri from Hereford in 1924. Matthew graduated from William Chrisman High School, Independence, MO in the Class of 1939. He also graduated from business college in Kansas City, MO and went to work for the Kansas City Southern Railway in Kansas City before going into the armed forces during World War II. Matthew served overseas for 28 months in the Army Air Corp during the North African and Italian Campaigns. He was honorably discharged from the Army Air Corp in October of 1945. He then returned to his former job with the Kansas City Southern Railway where he met his beloved wife of 62 years, Evalyn D. Phillips. They were married June 2, 1946 at the First Christian Church in Independence. Matthew retired from the Kansas City Southern Railway in 1983 as Senior Assistant Vice President of Marketing.
Matthew is survived by his wife Evalyn, daughter Sylvia Johnston Riley, and son Dana Mitchell Johnston.
A visitation will be held from 10-11:00 AM Saturday, November 8 at Speaks Suburban Chapel, 18020 E. 39th St., Independence, with services beginning at 11:00 AM; burial at Salem Cemetery.