Betty Jean Johnson, 85, of Pocahontas, passed away Saturday, November 20, 2021 at Pocahontas Healthcare and Rehab Center.

Betty was born March 15, 1936 in Ingram Arkansas.  She is the daughter of Duke E. Johnson and Iolus (Bot) Spikes Johnson.  She was proceeded in death by her father and her mother.

Betty resided at the Pocahontas Healthcare and Rehabilitation Center in Pocahontas, Arkansas.  She previously lived at 1503 Thomasville, Pocahontas, Arkansas.

Betty grew up on her father and Mother's farm in Ingram.  She graduated from Pocahontas High School.  After graduation, Betty moved to St. Louis, Missouri and went to work for the Bell Telephone company as a telephone operator.  She made many lifetime friends at the phone company.  She was an excellent operator and was quickly promoted to Supervisor.  Later she was promoted to a manager.  Her major responsibilities included training workshops in customer service.

When Betty first moved to St. Louis she lived with her newlywed cousins Junior and Phyllis Waddell.  Later she moved in with her Uncle Clifford and Aunt Leaounda Johnson. After deciding to make St. Louis her home, she built a house in Arnold, MO. As her mother and father grew older, Betty decided to return to Pocahontas and make her home with her parents.  In 1971 she ran for Randolph County Tax Collector and won that election and all following elections until she retired from public service in 1992.  Betty held the distinction of receiving more votes that any elected official in the history of Randolph County.

After her father passed away, Betty and her mother, Bot, moved to their longtime home on Thomasville Ave. in Pocahontas. They lived there for over 30 years.  A prominent location in town, friends and relatives would stop by to say "Hello" or stay for a visit on almost a daily basis.  Their home was always open to everyone and you could always count on being offered a delicious home cooked meal.  Betty enjoyed people, had a great sense of humor, and loved to laugh.

An active member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Betty served as a visiting teacher for many years. She also served as Relief Society President and taught Relief Society and Sunday School.

Home decorating, shopping and collecting tea pots were Betty's major interests.  She and Bot enjoyed traveling throughout Northeast Arkansas looking for a good flea market or yard sale and enjoyed traveling to Jonesboro to shop. Throughout retirement, Betty often spoke of moving back to St. Louis.  She loved the city and she loved the St. Louis Cardinals, rarely missing a game on TV, but her mother's roots were deep, so she chose to stay in Pocahontas with her mother.

Betty is survived by Dr. Cheryl Johnson (Steve) Compton, St. Charles, MO; Kathy Johnson Brown, Imboden, AR: Debby Johnson Escue, Egypt, AR; Ron (Donna) Johnson, St. Charles, MO; Vicki Johnson (John) Royce, Granite City, IL; Leona Johnson (Steve) Staggs, Lake City, AR; Tom (Janet) Waddell, Farmington, MO; and Brenda Waddell (Carl) Ward, Imboden AR and many other relatives and friends.

Visitation will be held Tuesday, November 23, 2021, from 11:00 – 1:00 P.M. with the service at 1:00 P.M. in the chapel of McNabb Funeral Home.  Burial will follow at Spikes Cemetery.