Carey Johnson

EAST PRAIRIE, Mo. -- Carey Griffen Johnson, 73, of East Prairie died Tuesday, May 28, 2002, at Baptist Memorial Hospital East in Memphis, Tenn.

He was born Oct. 17, 1928, at Cardwell, Mo., son of William Carey and Mary Amelia Griffen Johnson. He and Betty Josephine Jones were married Oct. 31, 1950, in Piggott, Ark. She died Sept. 19, 2000.

Johnson was a regional director more than 30 years for the Bureau of the Blind with the Division of Aging for the southern half of Missouri.

He was a member of First Baptist Church, East Prairie Lions Club, city of East Prairie Planning and Zoning Board, and was one of the first Little League coaches for the summer baseball program.

Survivors include a son, William Johnson of Sikeston, Mo.; three daughters, Karen Walker of Lake Ozark, Mo., Tracy Smith of Dexter, Mo., Jill Chance of Sikeston; a sister, Amelia Quinn of Memphis; 12 grandchildren; and a great-grandchild.

He was preceded in death by a brother.

Friends may call at Shelby Funeral Home after 5 p.m. Thursday.

Funeral will be at 11 a.m. Friday at the funeral home, with George White officiating. Burial will be in Dogwood Cemetery.