Tom Johnson

Thomas (Tom) Johnson, a native of Guadalupe County and lifelong resident, passed away on December 9, 2013, after a losing battle with cancer. Tom was born on May 9, 1924, to William Isaac Johnson and Florence Amanda Johnson. Tom was the youngest of three children, and was preceded in death by his parents and his sister Jewel, and is survived by his sister Willie Johnson, of Ft. Sumner, New Mexico. Tom attended high school in Ft. Sumner, New Mexico. After graduating, he enlisted and served in the United States Marine Corps as a military police officer. He returned from his service to the family ranch in eastern Guadalupe County, where he continued his life as a rancher and cattleman. He met Marrie Moir, a young teacher at Santa Rosa High School, and soon proposed. Marrie Carolyn Johnson, ne Moir, passed away in 1999. Tom and Marrie are survived by three sons; William (Bill) Johnson and his wife Kaye, and their children, Bryan and Heather, and their children Matt, Alec, Ethan, and Lilly, Marrie Kaye and Daniel; Steven (Steve) Johnson and his wife Julie, and their children, Sean and Hillary and their son Thomas, Tyler, and Sidney;, and Michael (Mike) Johnson and his wife Sherri. After his wife Marrie’s passing, Tom was fortunate enough to once again find love with Pauline Houlihan, whom he married in 2002. Tom is survived by Pauline Johnson of Santa Rosa and her family. Tom worked for the USDA Agricultural Research Service for two decades as the lead technician for a research facility headquartered in Santa Rosa. After his stint in government service, Tom opened a meat processing facility in Santa Rosa and continued operating the family ranch for many years. In his later years, he obtained a real estate broker’s license and brokered properties throughout Guadalupe County and the surrounding area. Tom was an active member of the Santa Rosa chapter of Rotary International for many years, serving terms as both President and Secretary of the chapter. Tom took great pride in his Rotary community service work, and leaves many friends in the organization. Tom and Pauline were also instrumental in establishing an assisted living facility in Santa Rosa. Visitation for Tom will be at the Chavez Funeral Home in Santa Rosa from 1-5 p.m. on Thursday, December 12. A rosary will be prayed at the Santa Rosa de Lima Catholic Church, at 10:00 a.m., Friday, December 13, 2013 followed by Mass of Christian burial. Interment will follow at 1:00 p.m. in the family plot, at Fort Sumner Cemetery, Fort Sumner, New Mexico. Pallbearers will be Linda Lujan, Danita Agar, Gino Lujan, Dale Houlihan, Bryan Johnson, Daniel Johnson, Sean Johnson, and Tyler Johnson. Arrangements are under the direction of Chavez Funeral Home, Santa Rosa, NM. To place an online condolence please visit our website at www.chavezfuneralhome.com