Harlene Joyce Johnson

1932 - 2025

Harlene Joyce Johnson

Dec 3, 1932 - May 27, 2025

In Loving Celebration of Harlene Joyce "Keke" Johnson

December 3, 1932 – May 27, 2025

A life that danced, laughed, and loved without limits.

On May 27, 2025, our beloved Harlene Joyce Johnson-affectionately known as "Keke"-took her final bow at the age of 92 in Tulsa, Oklahoma, the city she called home since 1953. Though her earthly journey has ended, her rhythm, radiance, and kindness will echo in our hearts forever.

Born in Bismarck, North Dakota, on December 3, 1932, to Leslie Raymond Hinzmann and Elizabeth Katherine Hinzmann (Rosenberg), Joyce was the cherished big sister of Leslie "Les" Hinzmann. Together, they shared a foundation of love, faith, and family that shaped Joyce into the generous, spirited, and joy-filled woman we all knew. She now reunites with them in peace.

Joyce leaves behind a family built on devotion, resilience, and unconditional love. She is survived by her dear cousins Bruce Burdette and Roberta Burdette, her loving daughter Kimberly Kaye Johnson, and her husband and lifelong dance partner, Raymond T. Johnson. Ray and Joyce's love story began at Tulsa's House of Blue Lights, and they sealed it with marriage on October 9, 1964. For more than 60 years, they laughed, loved, and lived as true soulmates-an inspiring bond that stood as an unshakable force.

Of all the titles she held in her life, perhaps none meant more to her than "Keke"-a name gifted to her by her grandson Kelly B. Forbes, whose tiny voice once tried to say "Granny" but found "Keke" instead. From that moment forward, she was Keke to everyone who loved her. And to Kelly, she was more than a grandmother. She was his best friend, his heart's compass, and his unwavering cheerleader. It was Keke who lovingly pushed him to earn his doctorate. It was Keke who sat beside him in cruise ship audiences, whispering, "One day, you'll be up there," until that dream became real. It was Keke who filled every corner of his life with light.

Keke lived life in full color. She was kindness in motion, a giver by nature, and joy personified. A longtime member of Beta Sigma Phi Sorority, Perceptor Beta Lambda Chapter, she was devoted to sisterhood and service. She volunteered for Meals on Wheels and invited Kelly along, teaching by example what it means to serve with heart. She welcomed travelers as an airport ambassador at Tulsa International Airport, always ready with a warm smile and a helpful hand. And through it all, she gave-to her community, to her family, to her friends, and to strangers who quickly became neither especially at her all-welcoming Thanksgiving Dinners.

She also danced! With the Happy Hoofers of Tulsa, she tapped her way into countless hearts. From square dancing clubs across the city to the Rolling Rascals, from the Red Glove Revue to the stage of the Queen Elizabeth II (QE2!), Keke moved through life with rhythm and radiance. Even the Atlantic Ocean couldn't stop her feet or deter her passion.

Alongside her husband and daughter, she co-owned JR&K Plastics-known to some as "Kelly B's Plastics"-a testament to the family's creativity, determination, and entrepreneurial spirit.

Her passport was well-used, her suitcase always half-packed. Summer vacations and 20+ cruises were her love language-many of those adventures shared with her beloved Ray and grandson Kelly. Those trips weren't just escapes-they were memory-making pilgrimages, full of laughter, show tunes, and dreams coming true.

Harlene Joyce "Keke" Johnson was the light in our lives, the music in our days, and the reason we believed that love-real love-never gives up. Her joy was contagious. Her laughter was unforgettable. Her legacy is unmatched.

Though she has taken her final bow, her performance was the kind that brings the audience to its feet-cheering, smiling, and full of gratitude just for having known her.

Honor her by doing what she did best: smile at a stranger, give more than you take, hold someone's hand a little longer, and dance like the whole world is watching. Keke, we love you!

In lieu of flowers please donate to your favorite charity in memory of Harlene Joyce "Keke" Johnson.

Floral Haven Funeral Home