Carlton Lavaughn Johnson

CARLTON LaVAUGHN JOHNSON Funeral services for longtime Cortez resident Carlton LaVaughn Johnson will be held at 10 a.m. on Monday, April 2 at the Ertel Memorial Chapel. Chaplain Marvin Graves will officiate. Carlton will be laid to rest next to his beloved wife, Julienne, at the Cortez Cemetery. Carlton was born July 13, 1923 in Baird, Texas. He passed away on Monday, March 26, 2012 at the age of 88. During World War II, while serving his country in the U.S. Army, Carlton met and married Julienne Larmusiaux. The couple was wed on December 1, 1945 in Boussu, Belgium. Carlton and Julienne and their young family moved to Cortez in 1954 where Carlton began his oil field bit service, known as Drill-A-Way Bit Service. Carlton possessed a musical talent that was well known in this area; one that he passed on to his children. He taught steel and standard guitar to legions of Cortez area residents as well as owning a music store on Main Street in Cortez. Carlton was a member of The International Hawaiian Steel Guitar Club and a past member of Toast Master's Club. He enjoyed walking 4 to 5 miles a day, reading and playing music. Surviving Carlton are his two sons, Carl R. Johnson and wife, Gayle, of Cortez and Donny M. Johnson and wife, Stacy of Cortez; his daughter, Sylvianne Johnson also of Cortez; six grandchildren, 13 great grandchildren and two great great grandchildren; his daughter-in-law, Reba Johnson of Cortez; and by two sisters, Mary Sandberg and Mattie Morrett both of Texas. Carlton was preceded in death by his mother, Hattie Mae (Winn) Johnson; his Daddy, L.A. Reno; by his wife, Julienne Johnson; his son, John L. Johnson; one grandchild; and his sister, Emma Jean. Memorial contributions can be made in memory of Carlton Johnson with Hospice of Montezuma.