Carel Paulena Johnson was born to Ben Johnson and Samma Young (Johnson) on March 15, 1958, and entered into heaven on Oct. 7, 2024, aged 66 years, 5 months. She is survived by her daughter, Amanda Michelle Jones of Spring, Texas; her sister Stephanie Byrd of Dallas, Texas; brothers Richard Murphy and Craig Murphy; stepfather Wayne Murphy; Uncles Alan and Larry Murphy; as well as many nieces, nephews and close friends.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Ben Johnson and Samma Murphy; her daughter Lou Ann and her son Daniel.
Carel lived in Saratoga, Texas, during her formative years, attending school in the West Hardin School District. Her daughter Lou Ann was born in 1982 with severe Spina Bifida and other physical and mental deficiencies. Without any training or preparedness for a child in this condition, Carel proved to be the consummate mother and sacrificed all ambitions, hopes and dreams she may have had in her personal life, to the care of this child. For almost 17 years, Carel devoted herself to see to it that Lou Ann received all the love a mother could give, until her passing on May 21, 1999. Carel then went to school and became a licensed nurse’s aid, and for a time continued her care of the helpless at a local nursing home in Liberty…