Norman Lee Johnston.... Age 80

Visitation: 10-11 am Saturday December 1, 2018 followed by
Service: 11 am Saturday all at the Eddy-Birchard Funeral Home
Graveside with Military Honors immediately following service at the Lane Cemetery
Memorials: Miami County Cancer Foundation,
Send c/o  Eddy- Birchard Funeral Home
P.O. Box 430
Osawatomie, KS 66064
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Norman Lee Johnston age 80 of Osawatomie, KS died November 24, 2018 at his home.

Norman was born March 25, 1938 in Lane, KS.  He was the third of five children born to George Albert and Laura Evelyn (Dawson) Johnston. He grew up in Rural Lane where he attended school at Christian Ridge for elementary and Lane High School. Norman graduated with the Lane High School Class of 1956.

After high school, Norman worked at the Osawatomie State Hospital as custodian for a short time. He then started his career with the Missouri Pacific Railroad on December 10, 1956. Until 1962 when he was drafted into the United States Army. He was stationed in Fort Ord in California for two years. Then in 1964, Norman was honorably discharged.  He then went back to work for the Railroad. Then in 1987 he retired.

Norman married Jolene Ralston in 1956. To this union came two children Daniel and Mashelle. Norman then was in a relationship with Margene McDougal and together they had two daughters Renee and Debbie. In July of 1963, Norman married Dorothy Weatherbie. To this union came three children Mary, Bryan and Aaron, along with three children that Norman treated as his own, Steve, Carol and Rick Watson. Norman and Dorothy were married until Dorothy’s death. Norman then married Darcy Hook in 1977.

Throughout Norman’s life he didn’t do just one job. Besides the railroad, he ran cattle, owned an elk ranch, mowed yards, ran Johnston Tree Service, moved houses and did concrete work. He worked hard but also made time to play.

Norman was a very skilled pool player. He was on a pool league for 35 years and he even competed in Las Vegas numerous times.  Norman loved fishing, camping and hunting pheasant, squirrel and snakes. He enjoyed collecting horse drawn farm equipment, he also loved to play poker and pitch.  He was a member of the Eagles club in Paola.

He was preceded in death by his second wife Dorothy, his parents, his sister Vivian Fuller and one granddaughter Vona Jo Friend.

Survivors include his wife Darcy of the home, sons Steve Watson (Linda Crouch) of Lane, KS, Daniel (Glenda) Johnston of Lane, KS, Rick Watson of Topeka, KS, Bryan (Jessica) Johnston of Garnett, KS, Aaron (Stacey Pickert) Johnston Olathe, KS, and Rick Conner of Goodrich KS who was like a son, daughters Carol (John) Fletcher of Lane, KS, Mashelle Hastert of Paola, KS, Renee (Rocky) Keele of Greeley, KS, Debbie (John Stahl) Johnston of Parker, KS, and Mary Johnston of Lyndon, KS. Brother James Martin Johnston of Nome, Alaska, sister Marilyn Waddle of Osawatomie, KS and Wilma Bushnell of Osawatomie, KS. 36 grandchildren and 52 great grandchildren along with many other family and friends.