Ray Johnson, 88, of Cozad, formerly of North Platte, passed away April 7, 2009, at the Cozad Community Hospital.

Ray was born Jan. 27, 1921, at Orafino to Philip and Elnora (Perkins) Johnson. He graduated from Curtis High School in 1938.

On Dec. 25, 1941, he married Beverly E. Arent at Overland, Kan. In September of 1942, Ray entered the U.S. Navy where he served in WWII. Following his discharge, he and Beverly moved to Gothenburg, where they operated a Cabin Camp. In 1948, the couple moved to a farm site south of Farnam where they lived and raised their children until Ray's retirement from farming in 1979. Following retirement, the couple moved to North Platte where Ray decided to attend Mid Plains Community College in pursuit of an Associate's Degree in Electronics. Following his graduation in 1980, he began work at Midwest Office Supply in North Platte. In 2005, the couple moved to Cozad.

Ray was a member of the Frontier County Fair Board, Frontier County Election Board, Draft Board, Farnam Telephone Board, District 14 School Board and the Curtis American Legion.

Ray enjoyed hunting, fishing, camping, square dancing and playing cards. He especially loved spending winters in Arizona and summers in Colorado with his wife. He will be remembered as a loving husband, father, grandfather, brother and friend.

He was preceded in death by a brother, Clarence; two brother-in-laws, Butch Janus and Kenneth Greenlee; sister-in-law, Carole Mae Johnson; nephew, Bill Greenlee; and a niece, Rhonda Janus.

Survivors include his wife, Beverly Johnson of Cozad; son, Larrie (Janice) Johnson of Cozad; daughter, Sharron (Larry) Call of Omaha; sister, Dorothy Janus of Lexington; brother, Gene Johnson of Gothenburg; sister-in-law, Ruth Johnson of Ogallala; eight grandchildren; 13 great grandchildren; three great-great grandchildren; and many other relatives and friends.

Memorials are suggested to Central Plains Home Health & Hospice or the American Heart Association. Condolences may be shared at berrymanfuneralhome.com.

Services will be Saturday, April 11, at 10:30 a.m. at the Church of Christ on Newell in Cozad with Mike Dennis officiating. Burial with military honors will be in the Arbor Cemetery at Stockville at 1:30 p.m. on Saturday.

Visitation will be from 1-8 p.m. on Friday at the Berryman Funeral Home in Cozad.

North Platte Telegraph, 9 April 2009.