ARDMORE – Susan Gayle Johnson of Ardmore, OK died February 13, 2022 of COPD. Susie was born in Oklahoma City, OK on May 16, 1951 to William Benjamin Johnson II and Katherine Gayle Burton Johnson. She attended Putnam Heights Elementary, Harding Jr and Sr High School, St. Anne’s Academy, Oklahoma City Community College and Oklahoma State University. Susie worked in telecommunications for AT&T and as an independent contractor at Tinker AFB. She began as an operator, was the first female lineman in Oklahoma, was a supervisor, a manager and worked in Technical Support. She also worked for Hertz.
Susie had many interests and passions. She loved all kinds of music, especially Jimmy Buffet. At the end of a work trip to Miami, FL, she hurriedly drove to Key West for a one hour visit to the original Margaritaville before zooming back to catch her flight home. Susie was a gifted athlete lettering in softball, badminton and volleyball. She played semi-pro softball in her 20’s. She continued to love watching sports, especially football. Susie loved gardening and moved to Ardmore ten years ago in order to have a large garden which she lovingly tended. She had the greenest of thumbs. Susie adored all animals. In the summers during high school, she worked in several areas at the OKC Zoo including the baby animal nursery, children’s petting zoo and as a Safari train guide. She was a devoted pet parent all of her life and also fostered rescue dogs and cats. She leaves behind her Weimeraner Tess and three cats. Susie was a great cook who loved feeding her family and friends and collecting cookbooks. As anyone could tell by the number of books at her house, she loved to read. She enjoyed a variety of fiction and non-fiction subjects. She collected wise and witty sayings, saving them on scraps of paper everywhere. Susie was the best aunt ever, offering wise counseling, fun times and great gifts. She was adored by all her nieces, nephews, great nieces and great nephews.
Susie was predeceased by her parents and is survived by her friends and family: sister Judi Worsham of Oklahoma City, brother Bill Johnson and wife Patti of Dallas, TX, sister Mary Strasner of Oklahoma City; nephews and nieces: Bradley Worsham, Matthew Worsham, Dori (Kevin) Gallagher, Kyle (Melissa) Johnson, Lizz (Ryan) Heimann; great nephews and nieces: Anthony Beathe, Meghan Gallagher, Taylor Johnson, Will Gallagher, Nathan Johnson, Ian Gallagher, Abe Johnson, Luke Worsham, Blake Worsham, Ben Heimann, Nathaniel Heimann, Watson Heimann, Tyndale Heimann, Cordelia Heimann and many Johnson and Burton cousins.
Susie was very much loved by her family and friends and will be greatly missed.
The family would like to thank Nelda Hester and Dan and Cheryl Deisher for everything they so lovingly did for Susie – best friends and neighbors ever! We thank the angels of Elara Caring Hospice – Edie Poplin, Ginger Lynch, Amanda Ogletree and Ursula Whitson as well as in-home caregivers – Rhonda Tidwell and Melissa Wise for their loving and compassionate care of Susie and her family.
If you would like to make a donation in Susie’s memory, please consider:
Elara Caring Hospice
The Oklahoma City Zoo
Forever Friends Foster Care and Rescue
Ardmore Animal Shelter
Services entrusted to Turner Funeral Home, Hinton, Oklahoma. Condolences may be sent to the family at turnerfuneralhomes@gmail.com, turnerfh. net, or you can find us on facebook.com (Turner Funeral Homes).
