Royce Lynn Johnson Jr.

Royce “Lynn” Johnson Jr., 59, of Center passed away peacefully Saturday, August 17th, at St. Luke’s Hospital in the Woodlands surrounded by family.

A Celebration of Life will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, August 24, 2024, at Mangum Funeral Home. Lynn’s wishes were to be cremated.

Lynn was born April 2, 1965, the eldest son of Royce Lynn and Louise Fults Johnson. He graduated from Center High School in 1983 then attended Stephen F. Austin State University and received a degree in computer science. After graduation, Lynn moved to Houston where he worked in various IT departments for companies such as Electronic Data Systems, Enron, Meryl Lynch and Ceva Logistics. Following 20 years of living in Houston, he moved back to Center in 2009 to be closer to his family and started working at Bird Forestry in IT.

As a devoted Christian, he taught lessons every Sunday evening at the Mt. Pleasant Church of Christ. He remodeled an old house on Pearl Lake and made a great country home for his hunting dogs and his favorite little companion Butch. He shared his father and brothers’ love of hunting and fishing and filled his life with squirrel camps, trips to the family property on the Sabine River and every deer stand he could build. Lynn shared his mother’s love of antiques, and they spent many Saturday mornings driving to estate and garage sales all over the area and loading his pickup with their finds.

Extended family was important to him and he helped with every gathering, every reunion, and could always be depended on to work the hardest and longest.  He put everyone and their needs ahead of himself. Instead of taking help, he gave help. His greatest joy was spending time with his nieces Jenny, Olivia, Jaleigh, Whitley and his nephew Tate. He spoiled them from day one and they loved him unconditionally. He shared the Johnson passion of playing 42, all he needed was a good set of dominoes and 3 people to play with. He greatly enjoyed playing poker, participating in Fantasy Football leagues and keeping up with national politics. While Lynn had various passions in life, his favorite was spending time with his family, friends and dogs.

Survived by:

Mother: Louise Fults Johnson

Father: Royce Lynn Johnson and wife Isabel

Brothers:   Shelby Johnson and wife Renee

                 Ed Johnson and wife Sherri

Nieces:   Jenny Johnson

               Olivia Johnson

               Jaleigh Johnson and fiancé Johnathon Dewberry

               Whitley Johnson

Nephew: Tate Johnson

Step nieces: Sarah Grafton and husband Dillon and their children Miles and Merrit

               Samantha Van Caenegem and husband Brent

               Sophie Clakley

Stepsister: Jessica Harrison

Aunts: Evelyn Hufferd

         Linda Winder

         Angela Lawson and husband Royce

Great Aunt:  Christine Mahan

Great Uncle: Bobby McSwain and wife Connie

First Cousins:  Donna McSwain, Tod Hufferd, Branden Bradshaw, David Winder, Aaron

                   Lawson, Adam Lawson

Preceded in death by:

         Beloved grandmother Maxine McSwain Jernigan

         Grandfather Royce Edward Johnson

         Grandfather Bill Jernigan

         Uncles: Larry Fults, Top Hufferd, John Winder

         Aunt: Karen Bittick

         Cousins: Johnnie Fults, Idell Fults