Mary Johnelle Huntley Dunson passed away peacefully on Thursday, January 18, 2018, in Arlington, Texas at 90 years old.
Johnelle was born on March 7, 1927, in San Angelo, Texas to Harper Algernon Huntley and Laura Frances Ogden Huntley. She was the oldest of eight children born to Algernon and Laura. The family moved to Seagraves in 1942.
Johnelle soon became affectionately known as “Johnnie” to all those in Seagraves. She met the love of her life, Lonnie Dunson while working at the movie theater in Seagraves. She graduated from Seagraves High School in 1944. She went to college at TSCW, the Tx State College for Women, which would become Texas Women’s University. While home on Christmas break, Lonnie proposed and they were married on January 21, 1945. Lonnie and Johnnie had 3 children; Rodney Eugene, Nancy Lauran, and Rebecca Janelle.
Johnnie worked many jobs in Seagraves but spent 18 years in the library at Seagraves Elementary School bringing literature to life for generations of school children. After retiring from the school, she opened “The Dancing Bear” daycare center. She ran the Dancing Bear for 4 years, then officially retired.
In September 2000, Lonnie and Johnnie moved to the Texas Masonic Retirement Center in Arlington.
Johnnie was preceded in death by her parents, Algernon and Laura Huntley, her husband of 57 years, Lonnie Dunson, son, Rodney Dunson, daughter Nancy White, and a sister, Sue Ford. She was succeeded in death by a brother, Roy Harper Huntley. She is survived by her daughter, Rebecca Reed and husband James of Burkburnett Tx, 4 grandsons, Michael White of San Diego CA, Tom White of Astoria, NY, Lawrence White of Defiance, OH, and Adam Reed, stationed at Grafenwhohr, Germany, 6 great-grandchildren, 2 brothers, Bill Huntley and David Huntley, 3 sisters, Frances Ann Morris, Marie Stephenson, and Judy Wilmoth, sister-in-law, Wilma Wilson, numerous nieces and nephews and many treasured friends.
A celebration of her life will be held on Saturday, April 7, 2018, at 1:30 pm in the First Baptist Church in Seagraves. Interment will follow at the Gaines County Cemetery in Seagraves.
The family suggests memorials be made to the library at Seagraves Elementary School, First Baptist Church in Seagraves, or the charity of your choice.
