Betty Ann Johnson

Betty Ann Johnson of San Saba, Texas passed away at 87 years of age surrounded by her family on Sunday, August 22, 2021, in San Saba, Texas.

Betty Ann was born on the family farm to Ward and Irene (Sullivan) Ellis of the Sloan Community in San Saba County on June 9, 1934. Having lived the majority of her life in San Saba County, Betty Ann attended her lessons at the Sloan Community School and later graduated from the San Saba Independent School District. She married Irby Craigan Johnson at the age of 19, and the two lived for a time at the Air Force base in Shreveport, Louisiana.

Betty Ann had an affinity for baking and cooking that she learned at a very early age. At the age of four, she had asked her mother, Irene, the ingredients and instructions for baking a pie. Her mother listed the items, though casually referred to cornstarch as simply ‘starch.’ While Irene and Ward were away one afternoon, Betty Ann thought she would surprise the family by baking her first pie, though in her confusion used laundry starch instead of cornstarch. It would only be after the family had eaten the pie would Irene realize there was no way Betty Ann could have reached the cornstarch, to which she asked how the pie was made, and Betty Ann referenced the bag of ‘starch’ in the laundry room.

Betty Ann would hold numerous jobs during her life, from telephone switch-board operator, bus driver, accountant for the school district, cooking and catering businesses, and helping her husband Craigan manage the family farm enterprise. Following her retirement from San Saba ISD working in the business office, she would manage the restaurant at the Jordan Cattle Auction.

Betty Ann was known for her resilience and ability to bounce back stronger from adversity. A young survivor of polio, she would spar numerous times during her life with onery cattle, and even be bitten by a cottonmouth snake at the age of 64. Regardless of what ill luck befell her, she would always be found trying to resume work before she had convalesced, and there was rarely anything anyone could do to stop her from getting back to her chores. Those that knew her would likely agree that she would consider passing from this life as quite the inconvenience, as it prevented her from mowing her yard.

For her love of work, she was never one to say no to a good time and frequently traveled with her friends, enjoyed fishing trips with Brenda Land, and she was fond of sailing on cruise liners and the occasional weekend in Las Vegas or Bossier City. She always had a smile on her face and was ready to travel. She was for much of her life an avid huntress, and never failed to be sure to remind the men of her family when a buck she had harvested was larger than theirs.

While known for many charitable activities and her work with the Baptist Church, Betty Ann was most remembered for her catering services and bakery sales. She was a regular staple for decades in the county, from selling goods at Peddler’s Day, feeding the local students at the Cattle Auction on Thursdays, frying fish for golf tournaments with her son Tommy, and delivering countless Thanksgiving and Christmas dinners for the families of San Saba; there is likely no table in the county that her handiwork has not graced.

Betty Ann is preceded in death by her younger sister, Peggy; her brother, Ward Ellis Jr.; her father, Ward Ellis Sr.; her mother, Irene Ellis; her nephew, Wade Ellis; and daughter-in-law, Marianella Johnson. She is survived by her daughter, Phyllis Johnson; her son, Thomas (Tommy) Johnson; her grandsons, Thomas Heath Johnson and Craigan Ross Johnson II and his wife, Patricia; her niece, Sherry Miller and her husband, Sam; her nephew, Roger Ellis; and Joe Ellis Jr.. She is also survived by multiple cousins, great nieces and nephews, many other beloved family members, friends, and former coworkers.

A Graveside Service was held on Thursday, August 26, 2021, at 10:00 a.m. at Rock Shoals Cemetery in San Saba County.

Blaylock Funeral Home of San Saba in charge of arrangements.