Doris Luella Johnson

1931 - 2026

Doris Luella Walker Johnson
July 25, 1931 - Jan. 15, 2026

A beloved and respected Oklahoma educator has passed away at age 94. Doris Luella (Walker) Johnson, a long-time resident of Sallisaw and Sequoyah County, Oklahoma passed away Thursday, Jan. 15, 2026, in Fayetteville, Ark.
Mrs. Johnson taught high school at Central High School (Sallisaw) before teaching First Grade at both Liberty Elementary and Eastside in Sallisaw. Known for caring for all her students, she taught a combined 50-1/2 years. In those years Mrs. Johnson taught more than 900 first-grade students reading-and-writing, high school typing and business classes, and several hundred more elementary-age students following her official retirement. She served under 10 principals and nine superintendents. As Sallisaw's "Teacher of the Year-1983," Mrs. Johnson was a member of Alpha Delta Kappa, Alpha Sigma Alpha, National Education Association & Oklahoma Education Association for 43 years. Also elected to "Who's Who Among Outstanding Teachers of America-1974," she was nominated by the Oklahoma Bar Association to the "Oklahoma Education Association Millennium "Hall of Fame".
After marrying her husband of 60 years, the late Howard Jerry Johnson, also of Sallisaw, the couple made their home in Paris, France (Maisons-Laffitte), followed by the St. Louis, Mo., area. then returning to Oklahoma.
Mrs. Johnson is survived by one son, Dr. Barrett Ashley Johnson, of Fayetteville; six nieces, Deborah Elaine Cheek Sparks of Tulsa, Carolyn Johnson of Oklahoma City, Sandy Johnson Price of Phoenix, Joella Tanner of Oklahoma City, Beverly Morris of Seminole and Margaret Johnson of Oregon; and three nephews, Robert Johnson of Oregon and Ronnie Johnson and Billy Johnson of Seminole. She also leaves behind many other loved relatives and a host of beloved friends, teaching colleagues, and cherished former students.
Mrs. Johnson was preceded in death by her late husband Howard Jerry Johnson of Sallisaw.
A Service of Remembrance and Celebration of Life will be held later this Spring-a time of rebirth and new life-in the sanctuary of First Presbyterian Church, Fort Smith, Ark. In lieu of flowers the public are asked to contribute at this time and in the future to the Sallisaw Education Foundation, Inc.