Guest Book Be the first to share your memories or express your condolences in the Guest Book for Dean Johnson. ViewSign RICHMOND - Dean Gant Johnson, beloved daughter, wife, sister, mother, aunt, grandmother, great-grandmother and friend departed this life December 10, 2012. Dean was born in Williamsburg, KY and there, attended Cumberland College. She met Jesse Wade Johnson in 1938 and the couple was married in 1939. Dean and Jesse lived briefly in the Corbin, KY area, and in Ithaca, NY during Jesse's time in World War II, before settling in Campton, KY. The couple lived in Campton from 1945 until 2007, when they moved to Charlotte, NC to be near their daughter and grandson. Dean joined the Campton Baptist Church in 1945 and was an active and devoted member there for over 60 years, serving as the Church Clerk, Church Treasurer and the Sunday School Superintendent. Her church service is best remembered for the many years she spent showcasing her beautiful singing voice in the church choir. Dean was deeply devoted to the community and service to others. She began her career with the Wolfe County School System in 1952 as a teacher at the Pine Ridge Elementary School and went on to serve in various secretarial and administrative capacities at the Rodgers and Campton Elementary Schools and at the Wolfe County High School from 1963 until her retirement in 1993. During those many years, she had the opportunity to touch, encourage and shape the lives of countless students and even a few co-workers. Additionally, she was a Charter member of the Wolfe County Woman's Club. As a woman, Mrs. Johnson had an uncanny ability to balance strength and resolve with elegance and grace; she was business-like in many ways yet at heart, was free-spirited and loved to have fun. She was independent, intelligent and shrewd, yet extremely compassionate and selfless. Mrs. Johnson, or "Dee Dee" as she was called by her loved-ones, was deeply devoted to family and the unique marriage of these various character traits made her an exceptional wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother. In addition to her parents, Mrs. Johnson was preceded in death by her husband of 68 years, Jesse Wade, a daughter Jessica Johnson Frazier, a sister, Annabelle Gant Byrley and a brother, William Gordon Gant Jr. She is survived by a sister, Virginia Gant Duncan of Melbourne, FL and a brother, Harold Lewis Gant of Corbin, KY, a grandson Forrest Wade Frazier and his wife Jayne and great-grandsons Jess and Maxwell, all of Charlotte, NC. Her family is all deeply grateful for the time we were able to spend with our Dee Dee. A visitation will be held on Friday December 14, 2012 at the Oldham Roberts and Powell funeral home in Richmond from 6 to 8PM. A service to celebrate Mrs. Johnson's life will be held on Saturday December 15, 2012 in the chapel at Oldham, Roberts and Powell funeral home at 11am with burial immediately following at the Richmond Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, donations in honor of Mrs. Johnson's life can be made to the Dr. Jessica Johnson Frazier Scholarship, Eastern Kentucky University Development Office, CPO 19A, 521 Lancaster Avenue, Richmond, KY 40475 or at www.development.eku.edu/how-give or to the charity of the donor's choice. To express condolences, please visit our website at: www.orpfh.com Published in Lexington Herald-Leader on December 12, 2012 Print | View Guest Book Read more here: http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/kentucky/obituary.aspx?n=dean-johnson&pid=161662346&fhid=7541#storylink=cpy