Obituaries

Gregory Charles Johnston

Photo of Gregory Charles Johnston
Gregory Charles Johnston was born March 20, 1947, in Tuscaloosa, Ala., to Ray S. Johnston and Ardelle Kinningham. His parents relocated to Blytheville, Ark. where Greg grew up surrounded by his large hard-working Kinningham family, cotton fields and a very close community. He was blessed to spend much of his childhood exploring Lake Norfork alongside an extended family of fellow "Blythevillians". Greg served in the US Army from 1966 to 1969, and thanks to the GI Bill, he was able to attend Memphis State University. There he picked up his BS in Education and the prettiest girl in Geology 101. On January 3, 1975, he married Sandra Moore in her family's living room in Linden, Tenn. That same year he started a 30-year teaching and coaching career that took him from Memphis City Schools to Jacksonville, Arkansas at Northwood Jr. High and North Pulaski High in the Pulaski County Special School District. Greg loved working with kids, teams, a hammer and nails. He always estimated he'd built miles of privacy fence and bookshelves. He loved playing golf, his golfing buddies and their shenanigans. He continued to enjoy his childhood Lake Norfork playground throughout life: lightly working to "catch all the fish", and mostly working to have all the fun. Greg was a lifelong fan of the game of football, the Arkansas Razorbacks and the St. Louis Cardinals. His sudden death on January 7, 2017 left his family, friends, and neighbors saddened and missing him. He is survived by his wife of 42 years, Sandra Moore Johnston of Jacksonville, Ark. He leaves a daughter Holly Ray Herlocker and son-in-law, Ross Herlocker of North Little Rock, Ark. His brother James Johnston and wife Joann live in Poplarville, Miss.. His Linden, TN family includes mother-in-law, Nola Peace Moore, brother-in-law and family, Randy and Gail Moore with son Blake and wife Whitney Moore, sister-in-law and family, Lisa and Tim Marlin son Lance. He leaves lifelong friend Danny Beale and his wife Judy Dupree Beale of Jacksonville, Ark. A celebration of Greg's life will take place Saturday, January 14th at the Southern Oaks Country Club in Jacksonville. Please join family and friends to celebrate, share and laugh. Visitation starts at 3 p.m.and service 5 p.m. Greg always enjoyed a good party! In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in his name to the good work of your choice, or CARE at CareForAnimals.org or by mail to P.O Box 7604, Little Rock, Ark. 72217. Sign online guestbook at www.mooresjacksonvillefuneralhome.com.

Published January 11, 2017

Upcoming Events