Leroy R. Johnston, 94, passed away in Hallettsville on Tuesday, September 2, 2014, after experiencing an accident with his John Deere Gator in a pasture near his home.

He was born January 23, 1920 in Chicago, Illinois, to Bertha (Berdie) and Leroy Johnston. He spent his childhood in Lockport and Lawrenceville, Illinois before moving with his family to Port Arthur, Texas, when he was 14. It was in Port Arthur that Leroy met Billie Mae Repschleger and invited her to be his date at a party; this was Billie Mae's first date and the beginning of a storybook love affair. Leroy and Billie Mae were married on October 9, 1942 in Port Arthur and celebrated their 71st wedding anniversary in 2013. Billie Mae passed away on April 24 of this year.

Leroy was a 1942 graduate of Texas A&M University and was an Aggie through and through. He was turned down for military service in World War II because of flat feet, even though he tried to enlist three times. His first job after college supported the war effort: he worked in St. Louis for the Curtiss-Wright Corporation, one of the largest aircraft manufacturers for the military in the United States at the time. In 1944 he returned to Port Arthur to take a job at Gulf Oil Corporation where he worked for the remainder of his career. His tenure at Gulf included serving in various capacities at the Gulf refinery in Port Arthur and as refinery manager at Gulf's Philadelphia refinery. He spent the last 12 years of his 38-year career with Gulf in Houston, retiring in 1981 as Vice President of Human Resources.

After retirement, Leroy and Billie Mae moved to Hallettsville where Leroy began a second career as a cattleman, which included service on the board of the Texas Limousin Association. He was also very active in Hallettsville, serving on the Board of the Chamber of Commerce and Agriculture, the Lions Club and the Golf Association; in recent years he served on the administrative board and as Chair of the Trustees for First United Methodist Church in Hallettsville. Leroy was an avid golfer and greatly enjoyed playing in the senior tournament at the Hallettsville Golf Association's course in Hallettsville on Wednesdays. He also was a long-time member of the men's Thursday night poker group and was good at winning the final pot. He loved sports of all kinds, his favorites being the Houston Astros baseball team and, of course, Texas A & M football. Attending games at Kyle Field and watching the Aggies beat t.u. on television were among his favorite things to do.

Leroy was preceded in death by wife, parents, and brother Norman. He is survived by sister Ruth Johnston of Beaumont; son Norman Johnston and wife Janet of Anna, TX; daughter Jeanne Ward and husband Tom of New Bern, NC; daughter Janis Richardson and husband Merle of Hallettsville; seven grandchildren, nine great grandchildren, and four nephews.

A memorial service for Leroy will be held on Sunday, September 7, 2014, at 2:00 p.m. at First United Methodist Church in Hallettsville with Rev. Melanie Monroe officiating. Memorials may be given to First United Methodist Church, Hospice of South Texas or another charity of the donor's choosing.