Diane Dickson Johnson's Obituary
Diane Dickson Johnson passed away peacefully on May 19, 2026. Diane was born on December 12, 1944, in Dallas, Texas, to Dick and Peggy Dickson.
Diane grew up in East Dallas. She spent her early teenage years on a Canadian Adventure, moving with her family to Edmonton (Alberta, Canada) – a transformative experience that, among other things, sparked a lifelong passion for horseback riding. When they returned to Dallas, her parents gifted her a horse, Chief, who she loved.
Diane graduated from Hillcrest High School in 1963, where she danced as a member of the Panader Drill Team. In 1967, she received a BA in English and a minor in history from the University of Texas at Austin.
While at UT, she met her future husband, Jerry Johnson. They were married at Lovers Lane United Methodist Church in Dallas, Texas, on August 18, 1967. She taught English at McCallum High School in Austin and later Plan A at J.J. Pearce High School in Richardson, after she and Jerry moved back to Dallas where they raised their family. In 2002, she started a second career as an ESL teacher at RISD Academy in Richardson, a role that combined her love of reading with her passion for helping children reach their potential.
For Diane, however, her ultimate calling was motherhood itself.
Diane had an infectious laugh. She loved spending time with her friends, her family, and, in her later years, her grandchildren – for whom she would drop everything without hesitation. She loved traveling, watching rom-coms, enjoying a good pot of tea or glass of wine, spending an evening with her beloved Bridge Group, reading a good novel, attending plays, exploring museums, cheering on her Texas Longhorns and
Texas Rangers with Jerry, and indulging in her love of all things British.
She is survived by daughters Ashley Jeffers (Jamie) and Jessica Bannon (Brian); son Matthew Johnson, grandchildren Brooks Jeffers, Finn Jeffers, and Miriel Bannon; sister Jeanie Koenig; brother-in-law Fred Koenig; niece Stacy Sims (Steve); grandniece Savannah Sims; and grandnephew Foster Sims. She was predeceased by her parents, Dick and Peggy Dickson, her husband, Jerry Johnson, and her daughter, Jennifer.
The family would like to thank Appletree Court for the care, love and fun they provided Diane in her final years.
A memorial service to celebrate Diane’s life will be held in Cox Chapel at Highland Park United Methodist Church in Dallas, Texas on May 29, 2026 at 10:00 am.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests any memorial gifts be made to North Texas Reading Partners and the Dallas Public Library.
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