Alice Modenia 'Dene' Johnson

September 21, 1926 - February 7, 2022

Dene Pate Johnson, 95, of Brady passed away February 7, 2022. She was born July 21, 1926, in Camp San Saba, Texas to Artis and Louise (Freeman) Pate. Dene was born and raised in Camp San Saba on the San Saba River living on the Brook Ranch. She was the oldest of seven children, five brothers and one sister. She attended school in Camp San Saba for the first three years and then was bussed into Brady. She graduated from Brady High School in 1943. After one year at business school in Austin, Texas, Dene decided to go into Civil Service rather than work in a factory and went to work as a Civil Service employee at the POW Camp in Brady, Texas. That is how she ended up in Brady working at the POW camp. "At the age of 19, she had 21 people working under her supervision." She made the comment "That is just what we did to help out in the war effort." She and Captain Mann (Postal Engineer) were, to the last people to walk off of the P.O.W. camp before it closed. She was then transferred to Fort Chaffee to help discharge thousands of GIs from the army. She was then transferred to Fort Sam Houston, awaiting transfer to Washington, DC where she worked for the Commander of the Coast Guard headquarters. She was proud of her service to our country. She cam home and met Noble Johnson in January 1947. She always said, "that was the biggest event of my life." They were married August 6, 1948, in Brady, Texas. In 1954 they adopted Carol Ann and she was the "apple of their eye." Dene worked in the retail fashion business for many years. She was a homemaker and also loved gardening. She was an avid bridge player for many years and belonged to several clubs. She was a member of the Church of Christ. Dene was preceded in death by her husband, Noble Johnson, sister Nell, two brothers Doug Pate and Bobby Pate. Survivors include her daughter, Carol Johnson, three brothers Charles Pate and wife Carolyn, Boise Pate and wife Judy, Ronnie and wife. She is also survived by on nephew Joe Boy Johnson and wife Mackye, three nieces Joeen and husband Gary Sutton, Justine and husband Ted McNeely, and Janice and husband Ronnie Cook. Services for Dene Johnson will be February 9, 2022, at 2:00 PM at Heritage Funeral Home in Brady. Interment will follow at Camp San Saba Cemetery in Camp San Saba, Texas. The family request any memorials be made to Camp San Saba Cemetery Association, 203 Brady Street, Brady, Texas 76825. Funeral arrangements are entrusted to Heritage Funeral Home of Brady. Please view Ms. Johnson's online memorial at www.heritagefuneralhomes.com