Berniece Fincher Johnson

I am so fortunate to have known her! I met Berniece at Ski Apache Ski Patrol. She was part of what I affectionately call `The Old Guard´, those patrollers who had been there long before Ski Patrol crossed my path. She was a skiing mentor to me while also an Advanced First Aid teacher. She encouraged me to realize I could use my skiing ability and skills as a woman to progress to higher levels of patrolling. I consider the 35 years I spent with her an honor. Thank you Berniece. Can´t wait...

I was fortunate enough to have met & got to know Berniece in MOSC. She was so interesting, and I was enthralled with her travel stories. She and her husband loved to travel & so they did. Berniece told me she had been to Stone Henge. Couldn't believe it. So she brought me the photo of herself standing by one of those tall stones. I still have it in my music folder. She also told about being on the Ski Patrol! I thought how can she go be on the ski patrol at Ski Apache! I have skied...

I met BJ in the 2012's era. Berniece was a brilliant landman, clever and smart and a bit stubborn dealing with people in the field. We met at the lunch bunch group, the women and men, let me come into their group for about a decade or until more and more started getting older and unable to attend. I was a driver, for Berniece and Jimmie Nell, if we went to Midland for lunch gatherings at Donna and John's. The Navajo tacos and piano recitals were the highlight of those luncheons. When...

She was one of our best mentors and historians at Ski Apache. Spending time with her was one of our best memories from patrolling at Ski Apache. Her stories were captivating. I distinctly remember one day at Ski Apache, having her come help me raise tower pads on Chair 1 after a big snow. It was very hard work and I'm pretty sure she was 80 or 81 at the time. I've never forgotten being knee deep in the snow, working hard and realizing she was working right there with me. Simply...

This image of her and the camel smiling is priceless.

Ms. Berniece is finally with her soul mate once again.

A Great Legend's Torch has gone out.. We must pick up and carry it on in her memory! I Have such Great memories with her at Sierra Blanca/Ski Apache Ski Patrol.

BJ was a dear Patrol friend to me and my late husband Rusty. When he passed in 2001, she rented my spare bedroom during ski season. Later we roomed together again when on ballooning trips with Barney. I will imagine her skiing heavenly powder with Rusty, George and Barbara, Sheridan and the rest of "the gang."

Worked with her on Ski Patrol since I joined in 1970. Quite a gal. Robert Henderson El Paso