Joan Johnson

Joan Works Johnson, born January 8, 1937, passed away June 23, 2025 at the age of 88.

Our mother, Joan Johnson, was a devout Catholic, a woman of substance and our mentor, role model and later our friend. She was a proud Texan but loved the culture of Southwest Louisiana. Her resilience through the ups and down's of her life was amazing as she met challenges head on.

For 30 years mom's primary focus was being the best mother she could be starting in 1958 with the birth of Sharon through Sandra's high school graduation in 1988. Mom wore many hats, always involved, always volunteering. She was the homeroom mother, PTA, leader of Bluebirds, Campfire Girls and Cub Scout troops.

She was the first woman to chair the annual St. Margaret's carnival, the first woman on the St. Margaret's Parish Council, and she talked St. Margaret's School into forming the first sports team for the girls - having to agree to coach a girls softball team herself! She was chaperone and driver of a station wagon full of kids for countless events including Putt-Putt tournaments in Texas. Her house was filled with the five of us children and our friends, for whom she prepared many great meals. She would put you to work - you were a guest the first time, after that you were family.

After spending her early adult years as the best mother 5 children could ask for, mom started a career in her late 40's as a travel agent with Bob Winfree Travel in the late 1980's and then also in Florida starting in 1989. During this time she got to travel to many places including Germany, Thailand and Brazil. With the advent of online travel nudging out travel agents, mom got her real estate license while living in Florida and learned the business from her oldest, Sharon, an established Realtor in Boca Raton, FL. In 1999, she moved back to Lake Charles, her chosen home, and continued her real estate career, reuniting with her many friends and family. Within a few years she was one of the more productive residential realtors in Lake Charles for the better part of the next 20 years. Mom continued her work as a Realtor until she was nearly 84 years old. As she was for her children, Joan was a fierce advocate for her clients. More than one person in Lake Charles experienced the 'wrath of Joan' if they got in the way of what was best for her children or clients.

Mom was happiest being with her kids, her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Getting to meet her great-grandchildren either in person or with photos brought a lot of joy. Anytime the family was together she was happy with the chaos and the love. She loved organizing and preparing for our visits, decorating for holidays and planning for parties like her epic Mardi Gras party held at her sweet cottage home.

If you had the honor of knowing Joan, we know you have a story too. She will be in our hearts forever. We will move forward knowing that she is with us and is a very strong part of our fabric.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Richard Vickery Works and Anna Margaret Sweeney Works and her brothers, Richard Vickery Works, Jr. and James Works and a son, Baby Boy Johnson. She is survived by her sister, Mary Sue Shelton and her children Sharon Arnett (Chuck) of Boca Raton, FL, Don Johnson (Valerie) of Lake Charles, Cindy Johnson (Lynn Brooks) of Portland, OR, Phil Johnson (Christina Thacker) of Seattle, WA, and Sandra Johnson (John Colligan) of Portland, OR as well as her grandchildren, Sweeney Arnett (Andrew Nienhaus), Logan Arnett, (Linzie) Katherine Johnson Maier (Shaun), Laura Johnson Power (Conor), Matthew Johnson (Lauren Salvador), Ace Johnson, Amelia Johnson and Meredith Johnson her 5 great-grandchildren and 2 great-grandchildren on the way.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 1:00 PM on Thursday, June 26 at Our Lady of Good Counsel Catholic Church, 221 Aqua Drive, Lake Charles, LA 70605, with Fr. Paul Jussen serving as Celebrant. The family will be available after the mass to visit with Joan's friends. Inurnment will be in Consolata Catholic Cemetery at a later date.