Raymond K. Johnson, Sr.

BARRE TOWN - Raymond Keith Johnson Sr, 82, Osborne Road passed away peacefully at 1:40 a.m. on Saturday, May 22, 2021, at the McClure Miller Respite House in Colchester, VT with his loving wife of 48 years, Donna; son, Raymond Jr; daughter, Louise; and granddaughter, Gianna at his side, maintaining a constant vigil of love, care, kindness, and comfort throughout his stay. In return, Raymond shared his unique sense of humor and many Texan stories with staff, family, and friends. His gentle smile and contagious laugh was only second to his positive attitude and outlook on life.

Born on March 16, 1939, in Lamesa, Texas, he was the son of Pauline Kee Johnson of Lamesa, Texas and Othal Ray Johnson of Lindale, Texas.  Raymond was very proud to be a Texan and proud of his multi-generational hard-working family.  His maternal grandfather was Captain Enoch Magnus Sparks, a Veteran of the Confederate Army who was honorably discharged in Raymond’s paternal grandmother, Mary Crow Johnson was a native Cherokee Indian of whom Raymond greatly admired and was proud to have as part of his heritage.

In Raymond’s early years, summers were spent in East and West Texas where he enjoyed farming, working in canneries with his cousins and crop-dusting in 2-seater airplanes.  Drag racing was always on the list of boyhood fun as were the famous Louisiana Hayrides where he and friends saw Buddy Holly and Elvis perform.

Raymond’s grandparents taught him Bible Studies, and this contributed to his love and respect for God, Country, and fellow man.  After WWII, his father, Othal was honorably discharged from the Army and moved the family to Carlsbad, New Mexico where Raymond graduated from high school.  He later attended a branch of New Mexico State University. Raymond was always described by his peers as being self-motivated and self-sufficient.  He was employed by US Borax Company for 9 years as the Payroll Manager for the extensive employees associated with the Potash Mines. He obtained his real estate license at the age of 19, assisting fellow miners in purchasing suitable housing.  A few years later, he accepted a position at St. Francis Hospital in Carlsbad, NM where he became the Office Manager of all accounts. Raymond served in the Army National Guard of New Mexico for 4 years. His other civic duties included serving as President of the local Little League organization and he was also a member of the Elks Club.

In the late 1960’s, Raymond moved to Memphis, Tennessee to accept a position with Wallace E. Johnson, the founder of Holiday Inns of America.  Raymond was hired as the Vice President of Medical Development Services, Inc, which served as the medical division of Holiday Inn. Raymond oversaw the construction and management of various specialty hospitals and long-term care facilities throughout the Southern States. He was instrumental in the licensure of the first federal medicare long-term facility in Wilmington, North Carolina. Upon completion of Doctors Memorial Hospital, a surgical hospital in Spartanburg, South Carolina, Raymond met Donna M. Grippo, RN, BSN, the Director of Nurses.  Raymond and Donna married in 1973, they later moved to Vermont where he became co-owner and partner of Health Care Services in Berlin, Vermont.

In 1979, Raymond and Donna founded Hospitality Homes, residential care homes located in Vermont and New Hampshire.  These residential care homes served many individuals enabling people to live supervised, yet independent and productive lives.  Their motto was “Share a home, share a life.”

Raymond’s enjoyment of Vermont was found in biking, downhill skiing, snowmobiling, boating on Lake Groton, brush hogging the fields of the family home in Barre and cutting wood on his 100 acres.

Raymond’s love of life and pride in family continues through his wife, Donna of Barre; son, Raymond Jr., of Burlington; daughter, Louise and “apple of his eye” granddaughter, Gianna both of Milton; as well as his sister, Linda Johnson Hansen and husband, Rich of Monument, Colorado; nephews, Kelly Farmer and wife of Tokyo, Japan; and Shawn Farmer and family of Modesto, California.

Family and friends may call on Thursday, June 17, 2021, from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m.- a eulogy will be delivered at 6:00 p.m.- in the Hooker Whitcomb Funeral Home, 7 Academy Street, Barre.    A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Friday, June 25, 2021, at 11:00 a.m. at Christ the King Church, 136 Locust Street, Burlington.

Memorial contributions may be made to the American Heart Association, PO Box 417005, Boston, MA  02241, www.heart.org or to the McClure Miller Respite House, 3113 Roosevelt Highway, Colchester, VT  05446  https://www.uvmhomehealth.org/donations/make-an-online-donation/, or Christ the King School, 136 Locust Street, Burlington, VT 05401 where Raymond’s granddaughter attends, https://cksvt.org/supportcks