Willie was born and raised in Edgewood, Texas to Arthur and Ethel Johnson. He survived the polio pandemic (1950) spending 3 months in the Texas Scottish Rite Hospital of Dallas. He missed the vaccine by several years.

He graduated from Edgewood High School in 1964. He moved to Wichita, Kansas to work for an aircraft company and there he met and married the mother of his children.

Willie had many talents and hobbies which led to living various places and trying his hand at several occupations. One of the first was a photographer. He had a studio in Howard, Kansas and Texarkana, Texas.

Later in 1974 he moved his family to Colorado Springs, Colorado to attend the Nazarene Bible College. After graduation he preached in many small towns in Texas – Carthage, Grand Saline.

Around 1987 he changed paths and became affiliated with the United Methodist Church and spent summers at SMU to finish his degree. He preached at many towns including Enloe-Lake Creek, Detroit-Woodland, Archer City and Wichita Falls.

Eventually landing at the final place he called home, Leonard, Texas. He met his angel of a wife Liz while pastoring the First United Methodist Church of Leonard. He also tried his hand in politics and was the mayor of Leonard. In 2010, he retired and decided he could settle down and just do all of hobbies. God had another plan and he and wife Liz started a church – Leonard Community Fellowship Church. He retired again on August 9, 2020 after preaching his final sermon and closed the church, closing out the last chapter of his life.

Willie’s life was full of adventures and many ups and downs, but nothing ever deterred his determination to succeed at whatever he was committed to at the time. It may have been woodworking where he lovingly built many lamps, clocks, rocking horses and other items for friends and family. His greatest love was old cars and restoring them. Even when he could no longer crawl in and out of a car, if any of his kids or loved ones were at his house you might have to start a car for him. He loved to hear them run and smell the exhaust. If the car would not start you were schooled in how to pump the gas. He loved the smell of wood and sunshine on his face.

Of the people that knew him they either loved him or did not. Everyone that encountered Willie learned something from him whether it be car repair or just his love for Jesus. He was not always an easy man to live with, but one thing is for sure he would do anything for anyone, and he loved his family fiercely.

He officiated many weddings and funerals during his many years as a pastor. If he could have figured out a way to deliver his own funeral, he would have done it.

Willie did not survive the final pandemic of his lifetime along with several other underlying heath issues. His body was tired, and he was ready to for his home in heaven. Willie always said, "Life is not always easy keep your eyes on Jesus and the cross and His plans and His timetable." This is the day the Lord has made. Let us rejoice and be glad in it.

He was preceded in death by his parents and numerous aunts and uncles.

He is survived by his wife, Liz; and his only sibling, sister Patricia Hollowell (Jerry); and the mother of his children, Cheryl Johnson; children, Tanya Voorhies (Brent), Stenton Johnson, Brandon Johnson (Tammy) and his bonus daughter Laina Dillman (Rob); grandchildren, Wade Moore (Felicia), Chase Moore, Jackson Voorhies (Mikali), Alexis Johnson, Andrew Johnson, Jace Johnson, Devin Dillman (Michael), and Caitlyn Dillman; great-grandchildren, Wyatt, Coltin, Alyssa, Creedence, and Noah Moore, Harper Moore, Serenity Voorhies, Ryker and Hartley Briscoe, Zayden and Keenan Gonzalez; special niece and nephews: Karen Francis Smith, Mark Hollowell, Kenny Hollowell and Michael Hollowell; a special cousin and her husband, Pokey and Dorothy Faye Goodson.

Celebration of Life, October 3, 2020 at 2:00 pm at the First United Methodist Church of Leonard.

In lieu of flowers please donate to the Texas Scottish Rite Hospital - scottishriteforchildren.org

There will not be a graveside service. His ashes will be placed in the Columbarium that will be constructed at a time yet to be determined at the Leonard Cemetery.