CANE RIVER, LA
MAY 1, 2021
Funeral services for Harvis “Junior” Johnson will be Wednesday, May 5 at 1 p.m. at Blanchard-St. Denis Funeral Home with Jay Begbie officiating. The family will receive friends from 11 a.m. -1 p.m. Wednesday. He will have a Masonic Service. Burial will follow at Bay Springs Cemetery in Chopin next to his beloved son Kevin.
Junior Johnson entered into eternal rest Saturday, May 1, 2021, at the age of 73 in his home on the banks of beautiful Cane River Lake. Junior was a minister under The Universal Life Church.
He was preceded in death by his father, Harvis Johnson,Sr.; mother, Rita Johnson Hernandez; step-father, Earl Hernandez; brother, Russell Johnson; son, Kevin Harvis Johnson; and brother-in-law, Robert Walker.
He is survived by his wife, Ginny Van Sickle Johnson; step-daughter, Annica Eliasson; step-son, Erik Eliasson; grandchildren, Noah Harvis Johnson, Vivianne Eliasson, Charlotte Eliasson, and Quinby Eliasson; brother, Terry Johnson; and sister, Debra Johnson Walker; as well as a host of extended family and loved ones.
Those honored to serve as pallbearers will be David Carr, James Cryer, Erik Eliasson, Noah Johnson, Marshall Lewis and John “Yonie” Masson.
Junior was a retired Production Supervisor in the Offshore Oil & Gas Industry, having spent 32 years in his career. He was an avid scuba diver and loved riding Cane River on his barge. A terrible helicopter crash, which he was blessed to have survived, ended this career, however, during his recovery process, he became interested in writing little stories of his life for friends and family. Junior’s first book, “Tales of a Boy From Cane River” was published in 2017 followed by his second book, “Coco Bed Justice” the same year. He loved his persona, “The Coco Bed Kid” which was the inspiration for his third book, “The Life and Legend of the Coco Bed Kid.” Storytelling and writing was his passion and in 2019 we were privileged to enjoy another one of his publications, “The Coco Bed Kid Writes and Rides Again.”
Junior was a board member of the Natchitoches Parish Fire District #1 in Cloutierville, Phoenix Lodge #38 Masonic Lodge of Natchitoches, Camp Chaplin of the Col. Samuel D. Russell 1617 in the Sons of Confederate Veterans and was a graduate of Northwestern State University.
Junior had a kind, gentle soul and loved all kinds of sports and outdoor activities. He was a blessing to everyone who knew and loved him. He was a great cook, loved music history, writing and watching old western movies on TV. He was compassionate and patient with elderly men and women and loved children. He enjoyed his life to the fullest and is leaving many memories, which will always be cherished by his many friends, family and extended family. He will be greatly missed.
In lieu of flowers, it was Junior’s request to make a donation to Wounded Warriors, Sons of the Confederate Veterans or the Masonic Lodge in his memory.
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