Walter Lee "Happy" Johnson, Sr.

Walter Lee “Happy” Johnson Sr., 81, passed away Wednesday, July 24, 2019, peacefully in his home surrounded by loved ones in Macomb, Oklahoma.

He was born to the late William Columbus “Shorty” Johnson and Serena Kate Johnson on September 25th, 1937, in Ocina, Oklahoma, the youngest of eleven children. Walter graduated from Sayre High School in 1955.

Walter was a brakeman for the Atchison Topeka Santa Fe Railroad, among other exploits, before he started his long and distinguished career in Law Enforcement. He started his career with the Oklahoma City Police Department, before moving on to the Shawnee Police Department in 1966. While at Shawnee PD, he held various positions in the Patrol Division and the Criminal Investigations Division. He retired after 21 years of service for Shawnee in 1988. Retirement did not suite Walter and, in 1993 he started working for the Pottawatomie County Sheriff’s Office. While there, he held many positions to include Undersheriff. Walter retired again in 2003 to spend time with his family and friends.

Walter was an active member of Countryside Church as well as the Macomb Senior Citizens Association. He loved to travel and raise cattle on his property. You could often find him sitting on his front porch and drinking coffee while he looked out over his beautiful landscape. Walter was blessed with a large family and many friends he enjoyed spending time with.

Walter was preceded in death by his, Father- William Columbus “Shorty” Johnson; Mother- Serena Kate (Coats) Johnson; Brother- Phineas Cleo Johnson; Brother- Bowie Odell Johnson; Sister- Connie Azile (Johnson) Moore; Sister- Bonnie Viola (Johnson) Vanzandt; Sister- Serena Naomi (Johnson) Uptergrove; Brother- Vernon Hilton “Bud” Johnson; Brother- William Columbus “Billy Dean” Johnson Jr.; Sister- Grace Violet (Johnson) Kanady; Sister- Lillian Irene (Johnson) Heath and Brother- Julian Velvin “Brother” Johnson.

Walter is survived by his former wife and cherished friend, Martha Sebring, of Choctaw, OK; two children: Walter Johnson Jr., of Macomb, OK and Deanna Bergeron and husband, Gary, of Shawnee, OK; Four grandchildren: Ronnie Johnson and wife, Amanda, of Macomb, OK; Robert Johnson and wife, Michelle, of Norman, OK; Mitchell Bergeron of Norman; and Melissa Bergeron of Norman; nine great grandchildren: Katie Barriga, Megan Swift, Amanda Johnson, Sarah Johnson, Andrew Johnson, Mason Johnson, Brooklynn Johnson, Emily Johnson, and Kyrie Bergeron; and two great-great grandchildren: Mikah Barriga and Elizabella Barriga; and other extended family and friends. 

Visitation will be from 1:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m., Sunday, July 28, 2019 and continue through service time.  Services will be 10:00 a.m., Monday, July 29, 2019 at Countryside Church in Tecumseh with Reverend Dennis Stone officiating. Burial will follow at Tribbey Cemetery under the direction of Cooper Funeral Home of Tecumseh.