Oather C Johnson

Oather C. Johnson, 93, affectionately known as "O.C.", transitioned from this earth on Tuesday, August 27, 2024 at his home in Kansas City, KS. He was born on July 11, 1931 in Idabel, Oklahoma to Arthur C. (Charlie) and Annie (Wilson) Johnson.

O.C. grew up in Idabel, OK where he attended school at Oak Grove School through the eighth grade. As the oldest male of the family, he and his brothers worked the fields with his father while his sisters continued schooling. His big sister, Bertha, would come home after school and teach him everything she'd learned. He accepted Christ at the age of 12 at Oak Grove Baptist Church in Idabel, OK and was baptized in the "Government Pool".

As a teenage boy, he and two of his cousins along with one of their wives formed a quartet and they would go to different churches around the area and sing.

At 21 years of age, O.C. moved to Kansas City in 1952 and started working various jobs including a car wash. He began working for Santa Fe Railroad in April 1953. During layoffs from Santa Fe, he worked at Armour Packing house until it closed.  In 1973, O.C. was promoted as the first Black foreman at Santa Fe. He also trained in plumbing from master plumber, Mr. U.N.W. Mathis and later went to plumbing school in Olathe, KS. He worked plumbing jobs on the side while still at Santa Fe. After 40 years of service, he retired from Santa Fe Railroad on April 13, 1993.

O.C. became a member of Bethel Baptist Church, Kansas City, KS shortly after arriving in Kansas. He was a youth Sunday School teacher for a number of years. At his passing, he was the oldest living member of Bethel's congregation and a faithful servant.

His hobbies included watching various sports and news programs, gardening, fishing, dog and horse racing, shopping on tv shopping channels, and playing games on his iPad. O.C. took pride in caring for his lawn and kept it well manicured. He loved spending time with family.

O.C. was preceded in death by his parents, sister-Bertha Thornton, brother-James Johnson and a great great grandson-Christopher Johnson Jr.

He leaves to cherish his memory, his children Rickey Johnson of Leavenworth, KS and Sharon Hamilton (Michael), bonus daughter-Patricia Briggs both of Kansas City, KS; siblings Ozella Nuchols-Idabel, OK, Ernest Johnson- Pontiac, MI, Bobbie Finney-Atlanta, GA, Elma Jo Fields (Carl)-Dallas, TX, Bettye Berry (Elmer)-Kansas City,KS, Dorothy Carr-Idabel, OK, Clifford Johnson (Maxine)-Dallas, TX, Helen Johnson-Kansas City, Kansas, Billy Thornton (Dominique)-Dallas, TX; maternal uncle William (Bill) Wilson-SanFrancisco, CA,;

6 grandchildren Mikesha Bradner (Arik),Jasmine Johnson, Marcus Johnson (DeAngela), Michelle Hamilton, Steffon Hamilton all of Kansas City, Ks, & Rickey Johnson II (Trenace)-Memphis, TN];  9 great-grandchildren Christopher, Andrew, Aiden, Peyton, MaKenzie, Paisley, Masen, Emerson, Mira, Mari; and 5 great great grandchildren. Special acknowledgement to Bessie Glass,Cathi Johnson, Vicki (Dennis) Bradford, LaVeda Tyler (Eric), Monica Akers (Derrick), Victor Jackson, Robert Cobin (Demetri), Karen Shepherd  and a host of cousins, nieces, nephews and other relatives and friends.