Jerry Walker Johnson

Jerry Johnson

Jerry Walker Johnson, 92, passed away peacefully on February 13, 2026. He was born on September 14, 1933, during the Great Depression, in San Saba, Texas, the place he would always call home. A graveside service will be held at the San Saba City Cemetery at 10:00 a.m. on Monday, February 16, 2026 and will be officiated by Pastor Tom Brand. Arrangements are under the direction of Blaylock Funeral Home in San Saba.

Growing up in the Live Oak community near Jerry's Branch Creek, the creek he was named after, Jerry attended a one room grade school. He and his childhood friend, Cotton Thornton, were the only two students in their class through the eighth grade. After his family later moved into town, he attended San Saba High School, where he excelled in football, basketball, and track as a proud San Saba Armadillo. He was voted Best Boy Athlete and graduated in 1952.

Jerry proudly enlisted (along with friends, Hooker Reavis, Robert Broyles, Jerry Reavis and several others) in the United States Navy. He served his country as a Hospital Corpsman Medic from 1952 to 1956 during the Korean Conflict aboard the aircraft carrier USS Princeton. This experience shaped his lifelong sense of duty, discipline, and patriotism.

On June 17, 1958, Jerry married Eleanor Owen when the two secretly eloped to Johnson City, Texas. They kept their union a secret until Jerry decided to attend college in Alpine. When Eleanor told her parents she was moving, they asked, "Why?" She replied, "Because I'm married to Jerry Johnson!" Their marriage spanned 67 years and became the foundation of a close and devoted family.

Jerry graduated from Sul Ross State University in 1961 with a degree in Animal Husbandry. Afterwards, he managed the Big G Ranch for Owen Brothers Land & Livestock near Dallas, Texas before moving his family back to San Saba. In 1964, Jerry and Eleanor returned home to raise their children, Brady, Jeri Ann and Dub, on the banks of the San Saba River at the Chamberlain Place. Farming and ranching together, they built a life deeply rooted in hard work, faith, family and fun.

Throughout the years, Jerry and Eleanor devoted countless hours to the sidelines and stands, first supporting their children and later traveling throughout West Texas to cheer on their grandchildren in tennis, football, track, basketball, and volleyball. However, few things brought Jerry greater joy than watching his grandchildren play and fish along the San Saba River and taking care of their beloved yellow lab, Bowie. These moments filled him with love, pride, and lasting memories. He was also deeply proud of his son- and daughters-in-law-Ray, Gina, and Anna-and grateful for the love, commitment, and strength they brought to his family.

Jerry exemplified a life well lived. He was a man of his word and a friend to all. His resilience, toughness, and great sense of humor will be cherished by many. Jerry loved a good joke and often amused himself and others as he vividly reminisced about stories from years past. He lived his life guided by faith, reflecting the words of Proverbs 3:5: "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding." His legacy lives on through the generations he helped shape and the values he passed down.

He is survived by his wife, Eleanor Johnson; his children Brady and Anna Johnson, Jeri and Ray Willoughby, and Dub and Gina Johnson; his grandchildren Zack and wife Shanna Johnson, Jared Johnson and fiancée Tori Hernandez, Travis Johnson and fiancée Jessica Rivas, Mary Kyle and husband Tate Jones, and Wilson Johnson and fiancée Haley Salsbury; his sister Connie Taff and husband Tom; numerous nieces and nephews; and special friends Lewis Linn and Florentino Escobedo.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Irby and Emma Johnson; sister, Joyce Hallmark; brother, Craigan Johnson; nephew, Craig Hallmark and niece, Leslie Taff.

Pallbearers will include Zack Johnson, Jared Johnson, Travis Johnson, Wilson Johnson, Tate Jones, Tommy Johnson, Linn Owen, Will Owen, and Wes Holmes.

The family would like to express their heartfelt gratitude to the staff of San Saba Rehabilitation for the compassionate care, kindness, and support shown to Jerry and his family. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to a charity of your choice.

Online condolences can be made at www.blaylockfuneralhome.com