J.R. Johnston

J.R. Johnston, a longtime resident of Norwood, Missouri, passed away May 10, 2019, at his home in Norwood, Missouri. J.R. was born March 13, 1929, south of Mountain Grove in Drury, Missouri, to Jason and Ollie (Smith) Johnston.

J.R. attended school in the Drury area and at the age of eighteen moved to Iowa, where he worked at the Blackhawk Foundry and J.I. Case Company. During his time in Iowa, in 1951, he met and married Janet Borders, to whom he was married for 67 years. While living in Iowa, they had a daughter, Mary Ann.

J.R. and his family moved to Oregon in 1955, where he worked at a sawmill. While living in Oregon, J.R. and Janet had a son, Herbie. In 1960, the family returned to Norwood, Missouri, where he remained until the time of his death. Upon returning to Missouri, J.R. drove a school bus for several years and owned and operated his own dump truck until retiring in 1990.

J.R. enjoyed fishing, traveling, and was an avid bluegrass musician and fan. In the late 1970’s and early 1980’s, J.R. played bass in a bluegrass band called “Misty Mountain Bluegrass”. For many years J.R. and Janet attended many bluegrass festivals in several states and were regular attendees at the McClurg and Vanzant jam sessions, where he enjoyed playing old-time banjo. In 2017, J.R. was awarded the Pioneer of Missouri Bluegrass award, given for his support of bluegrass music.

J.R. was raised in a Christian home and attended Norwood Baptist Church for many years with his family.

J.R. was preceded in death by his parents, Jason and Ollie Johnston, four brothers, Marion Johnston, Earl Johnston, Eugene Johnston, and Silas Johnston, and two grandsons, David Mason and Chris Mason.

He is survived by his wife, Janet Johnston, of the home, one daughter, Mary Ann Mason and her husband, Billy, of Norwood, Missouri, one son, Herbie Johnston and his wife, Jeanie, of Norwood, Missouri, one granddaughter, Cassie Ferguson and her husband, Tyler, of West Fork, Arkansas, two great-grandsons, Kyle Mason and Levi Mason of Mountain Grove, Missouri, one great-great-granddaughter, Anistyn Mason and one great-great-grandson, Rydge Mason, both of Mountain Grove, Missouri, and many other friends and relatives who will greatly miss him.