Floy Maxine Johnson was born October 26, 1924 on a farm near Elk City, Oklahoma. She was the first born of the five children of Seth Wroten Johnson, Sr., and Flossie Brook Wells Johnson.  Her maternal grandparents had moved from Appleton City, Missouri to homestead, which is near Hammon, Oklahoma in 1898 and her paternal grandparents had moved from Honey Grove, Texas to Elk City in 1905.  Her mother was a school teacher and her father a farmer and a combat veteran of World War I.

A graduate of Merritt High School as valedictorian, she received a Bachelor of Arts degree from Hardin-Simmons University, Abilene, Texas. She was editor of her university's school paper, The Brand, her junior and senior years there. She was granted a fellowship by The University of Texas - Austin where she received a Master of Journalism degree and completed work toward a doctorate.

Most of her professional life was spent as a staff member of the Texas Legislative Council, research and bill-drafting agency for the Texas Legislature, where she eventually served as Director of Research and Special Projects.

She was also staff member and editor for the Institute of Public Affairs, The University of Texas-Austin (forerunner of the Lyndon B. Johnson school of Public Affairs); research director for Independent Colleges and Universities of Texas; research associate and editor for the Coordinating Board, Texas Public Colleges and Universities; and director of staff research, Texas State Senate Committee on Juvenile Affairs.

Floy was a founding editor of The Texas Presbyterian in 1951, she was also director of staff for The Matrix, national monthly publication of Theta Sigma Phi (now Women in Communication) for eight years.

As a result of research evaluating efforts of State of Texas rehabilitation agencies, she became a volunteer advocate for handicapped and mobility-impaired persons. She was a founding member of MIGHT!  (Mobility Impaired Grappling Hurdles Together) in Austin and worked with successor and related local, regional, state, and national organizations.

A life-long Baptist, she was active in churches in Elk City, Oklahoma, as well as Abilene and Austin, Texas.

Floy was a brilliant woman who excelled in all her many endeavors. She was also devoted to her tight-knit family, especially her mother and father as they aged.  Those of us who loved her will greatly miss her as she was the matriarch of our family.

She is survived by her sister and brother-in-law, Glenna and Roger Pickett of Sand Springs, Oklahoma; brother and sister-in-law, Seth W. and Ruth Johnson of Lawton, Oklahoma; nieces and nephews, Jennifer Johnson of Carmel, California, Barbara Lawrence, M.D. of Aledo, Texas, James Lawrence (Judy Gadlage) of Tulsa, Oklahoma; Norman Martin of Lubbock, Texas; Quinn Martin (Gwyn Jones) of Silver City, New Mexico; Don McDonnell of Dallas, Texas; Nancy Harlin (Bob) of Dallas, Texas; Tom McDonnell (Kayla) of San Antonio, Texas; step-nieces and nephew, Cindy Shaw (Jim Shaw, M.D) of Reno, Nevada; Deana Howard (Don) of Edmond, Oklahoma; and Ricky Thur of Lawton, Oklahoma,  She is also survived by 11 grand-nieces and nephews and one cousin, Gary Joseph (Jeri) of Louisville, Colorado.   She was predeceased by her parents; her sister, Beth Martin of Silver City, New Mexico; sister and brother-in-law, Kathleen (Kay) and Thad McDonnell of Levelland, Texas; brother-in-law, Quinn Martin Sr. of Matador, Texas and nephew-in-law Alan Rose of Dallas, Texas.

The family would like to express their deep gratitude to the staff, nurses and aides at The Villages of Southern Hills for their tender care and kindness the last two years of Floy's life and the same gratitude to The Family Choice Hospice nurses.  Funeral services will be held at 11:00 A.M. Thursday, November 15th at Stanleys Funeral Home at 3959 East 31st Street, Tulsa.  She will be transported to Elk City, Oklahoma Friday, November 16th for graveside services and burial at Fairlawn Cemetery.