Johnnie Lou Bradshaw Linn

Johnnie Lou Bradshaw Linn, 94, passed away peacefully on September 7, 2020. She was born on September 2, 1926, in Colorado City, Texas, to Louise Whittington Bradshaw and William H. Bradshaw. She moved to San Saba in the early 1930s with her mother and four brothers: William H. Bradshaw, Jr., Billy Joe Bradshaw, Albert N. Bradshaw, and O’Donald Bradshaw. She lived the remainder of her life in San Saba. She married Don M. Linn on September 3, 1944, the day after her eighteenth birthday, and together they had three children: Lewis, Bill, and Jayme.

Johnnie was a warm, open, and well-loved woman, and she will be missed. She had a dry sense of humor and an optimistic outlook on life. She was a wonderful mother to her three children, providing a welcoming home for them to bring their friends. Johnnie was a hard worker, having worked at a number of different jobs in San Saba, including running her own home day care, working at Hibler Bar-B-Que restaurant, and working as a cashier for many years at the Modern Way Grocery. So many young people in San Saba got their start at Johnnie’s daycare, and they remember her fondly for providing a loving, safe, and fun atmosphere. Johnnie was a lot of fun. She and a group of friends jokingly called themselves “the PTA” and met at her home on Saturday nights for much laughter and conversation.

Johnnie loved Christmas, country music, and Nashville, but most of all, her seven grandchildren. She loved decorating her house for Christmas with her collection of Christmas houses, musical Santas, and ornaments. She never saw a musical Christmas toy that she did not love. She traveled to Nashville for many years for Fan Fair with a great group of friends and was proud that she would score front row seats to so many concerts. She was equally proud of her country music star key chain collection and the extensive picture albums she created from her Nashville visits. At the age of 80, she was game to climb to the top of the Grand Ole Opry so she could see Loretta Lynn one more time, as they were the only tickets available. She was happiest of all when she was doing almost anything with her seven grandchildren. Some of her favorite activities with them were collecting bugs, making mud pies, making, in her words, “sinful” all fried food lunches their parents did not know about, decorating for Christmas, learning to make music CDs, and learning to use email. She had a special bench where she left carefully selected presents for them. She let her grandchildren know how much she loved them. She was the perfect grandmother.

Johnnie was preceded in death by her husband, Don Linn, and her brothers. She leaves behind several nieces, and her children and their spouses: Lewis Linn and Phyllis Cohen of Houston, Dr. William Linn and Dr. Cynthia Mulrow of San Antonio, and Jayme and Darrell Brooks of Lampasas; and seven grandchildren, Rebecca Linn of Houston, Sam Linn of New York City, Emily Mulrow and husband Austin Lobitz of San Antonio: Ben Linn of Austin; Chad Brooks and wife, Deniss, and son, Gael, of Lampasas; Dr. Katie Brooks and husband, Tommy Sullivan, of Tulsa, Oklahoma; and Dallas Brooks of Lampasas.

The family would like to thank the caregivers at San Saba Rehabilitation and Nursing Center for their kind care for her over the last several years. If you choose to make a contribution in Johnnie’s memory, the family suggests the Country Music Association Foundation or a charity of your choice.

A private service will be held Friday, September 11, 2020, at San Saba Cemetery.