Bill Johnson

Willard Ray “Bill” Johnson was born July 31, 1952, to Willard Dale and Geneva May (Matney) Johnson, in Marshfield, Missouri. He passed from this life on November 9, 2026, at his home in rural Seymour, Missouri, at 74 years of age.

Bill married Marcella Todd, affectionately known as “Red”, on September 15, 1972, in Seymour, Missouri. One son, Dustin Ray Johnson, was born to this union on January 20, 1978.

Bill grew up and attended school at Seymour. He enjoyed playing basketball and baseball at Seymour High School before graduating in 1971. While in high school, he met his future wife while riding the school bus. After high school, Bill drove a truck for several years until 1988, when he became a police officer in Seymour. He later joined the state drug task force, and he also served as the Seymour Chief of Police from 1990 to 2004.

Bill and Marcella ran a small grocery store from 2004 to 2006. That venture led them to open Billy Ray’s Mercantile on the Seymour square from 2010 to 2014. During this time, Bill continued to drive a truck over-the-road from 2006 to 2026. He had most recently begun a new adventure of driving an Amish construction crew.

Bill was a member in good standing of the Seymour Hazelwood Masonic Lodge #459. He served as a Mason for 35 years from 1991 until his passing, also serving as Master for a year. Bill’s hobbies included music, camping, and watching westerns, and he especially loved his farm and his animals.

Bill was preceded in death by his parents, Willard and Geneva Johnson.

He is survived by his loving wife, Marcella “Red” Johnson of Seymour, Missouri, his son, Dustin Johnson and wife, Jennifer, of Springfield, Missouri, two sisters, Kathy McFarland and husband, Philip Coniglio, of Seymour, Missouri, and Eva Howard and husband, Danny, of Marshfield, Missouri, two brothers, Danny Johnson and wife, Sandra, of Seymour, Missouri, and Greg Johnson and wife, Delilah, of Warsaw, Missouri, five grandchildren, Kylie, Kowen, McKenna, Amelia, and Kingslyn, of Springfield, Missouri, and many extended family and friends who will miss him.