Garry Johnson's Obituary
Garry Johnson passed away October 24, 2024, at the age of 81. He suffered a brain bleed following a fall at home. Garry passed away peacefully at the hospital with family by his side.
Garry was born January 19, 1943, in Tyler, Texas. He always spoke fondly of his childhood spent searching for arrowheads, building rockets, and taking care of his pet dinosaur.
After a few years working as a high school chemistry teacher in Decatur, Texas, Garry returned to school and completed a pharmacy degree at the University of Texas in 1972. He worked for 44 years as a retail pharmacist. It was working in a pharmacy that led him to meet his beloved wife of 48 years, Kathy. Garry spent more than 40 years managing the pharmacy at the Skaggs that became an Albertsons that became the pickleball place on Custer Road and 15th Street in Plano. When his store closed, Garry spent about four months transitioning his cherished customers to Tom Thumb before retiring. He treasured the relationships he built with his customers and considered them family.
Garry hated waste and always appreciated a good deal. When Albertsons closed several stores, he acquired a semi-truck full of wine and grocery store wine racks that otherwise would have been discarded — the ultimate bargain. He filled the house with wine and spent years working through each bottle, enjoying the challenge of guessing which wine would be drinkable. Friends and family “shopped” freely from his supply. Garry’s taste in wine improved over the years, and he eventually conceded grocery store wine racks were not essential home decor.
Garry loved all creatures, big and small. He spent his golden years doting on his cat, Callie; feeding pecans to squirrels; and treating pigeons to the finest bird feed. He adored all his pets, and particularly loved walking his dogs through the neighborhood over the years — accompanied by his kids and grandkids, whenever they were in town.
Garry will be remembered for his kind heart, his love of ice cream and pecans, his many tall tales (about that pet dinosaur and a lucky spider named Ralph), and his dedication to family. He was incredibly proud of his two daughters and his four grandchildren. He was a die-hard Longhorns football fan, and he spent his final days lamenting the SEC’s decision to fine Texas after fans tossed bottles on the field in protest of a bad call.
Garry is survived by his wife, Mary Katherine Johnson, of Richardson, his daughters Kristin (Booth) Aldred of Austin and Megan (Mark) Naylor currently of Slovakia. He was blessed with four wonderful grandchildren — Dimitri, Vivienne, Wesley, and Owen. He is also survived by his twin brother, William Larry Johnson, and sister, Patti Rae Johnson. In lieu of flowers, please make a donation in Garry’s honor to Operation Kindness, a lifesaving animal shelter in North Texas.
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