Cecil Johnson

CECIL RAY

JOHNSON

ROBBINSVILLE - Cecil Ray Johnson, 79, of the Stecoah Community near Robbinsville, N.C., went home to be with the Lord Monday, December 19, 2011 at St. Joseph's Hospital in Asheville, N.C.

A native of Graham County, he was the son of the late Dewey J. and Easter Carringer Johnson. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife, Bernita Johnson and his infant children, Carroll Ray, Donna Faye, and Tina Daphine Johnson.

Cecil was a fan of bluegrass music and was the founding member of the Carolina Bluegrass Boys and played with them for more than 20 years. He operated two different businesses in the Stecoah Community, Tooties Café for 18 years and Johnson's Exxon for 6 years.

He is survived by his daughter and son-in-law, Mary Lynn Johnson and Bill Stillwell of Sylva, N.C.; and his sons and daughters-in-law, Olin Kent and Margie Johnson of Stecoah, and Jerry Michael and Kelly Johnson of Bryson City, N.C.; his brothers, Doyle Johnson and Herman Johnson, both of Stecoah, and Marlin Johnson of Sullivan, Ohio; and his sisters, Pauline Crisp of Robbinsville, N.C., Maxine Daniels of Stecoah, and Bernice McKeehan of Bryson City, N.C. His grandchildren are Kristen Wiggins, Branden Jerry Kent Johnson, Steven Robert Crisp, and Tori Morgan Johnson. He has three great-grandchildren, Madison Grace, Reese Scout, and Katie.

Funeral service will be held at 7 p.m. Wednesday, December 21, 2011 at the Townson-Smith Chapel. The Reverends Kenny Ball and Charles Ray Ball will officiate. The family will receive friends from 5 to 7 p.m. Wednesday at the Chapel, prior to the service. Committal service will be held at 11 a.m. Thursday, December 22, 2011 at Breedlove Cemetery.

Townson-Smith Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements. An online register is available at www.townson-smithfuneralhome.com.