James "Jim" F. Johnson

James “Jim” F. Johnson, age 90, of Amarillo, died peacefully at his home surrounded by family on July 12, 2023.

The funeral service will be on Tuesday, July 25, 2023, at 10:00 AM at Schooler Funeral Home, Brentwood Chapel, 4100 South Georgia.  The Rev. Ty Cobb will officiate.  The interment will be at Memory Gardens Cemetery.

Jim was born in Amarillo on February 4, 1933, to his parents, James Monroe and EJ Farrell Johnson.  He proudly graduated from Amarillo High School in 1951.  In January of 1953, he married the beautiful Betty Blair.  They would live a grand adventure for forty-eight years until Betty died in 2001.

Shortly after their marriage in 1953, Jim enlisted in the US Army.  He attended boot camp at Ft. Bliss and then was sent to England, where he served in the 39th Anti-Aircraft Division Charlie Company at the Sculthorpe Air Force Base.  Betty was able to join him in England in 1954.  In 1955 he was honorably discharged from the Army and began his civilian life.

Jim spent his life serving others during his career in the insurance industry.  He worked for State Farm for over twenty-one years before retiring in 1988.  He then bought Western Appraisal Services; he owned the business for two years before selling it to start the next chapter of his life as an independent “stormtrooper.”

Working independently, Betty was able to accompany him.  Together they traveled throughout the states, most memorably to Hawaii.  Jim worked as an independent adjuster until 2002.

In addition to a successful career, Jim served the community by being involved in the South Amarillo Optimist Club, a Shriner, and a Khiva Clown.  Jim also enjoyed cars, rebuilding, racing, and collecting.  He could be found racing at the Grand Bowl in his younger years.  His other passion was golf.  After he retired from the insurance industry, he was employed by the City of Amarillo as the Greens Marshall at Comanche Trail Golf Course for seventeen years, retiring on February 3, 2023, one day before his 90th birthday.

He was preceded in death by his parents, a brother Horace Johnson, and his wife, Betty, in 2001.

Jim is survived by his two daughters, Kim Livingston and Gemma Mitchell, both of Amarillo; five grandchildren, Amanda Livingston, Erika Hinz, Chris Livingston, Dakota Mitchell, and Tucker Mitchell; and by five great-grandchildren, Khristian Hutto, Kamryn Hutto, Heston Hinz, Hutch Hinz, and Wyatt Hinz.