Dallas Johnson

Dallas Christian Johnson was born on April 24, 1943, in Atlanta, Texas. He was the second child born to Sam Christian and Ada B. Sims aka Mattie Johnson. Both parents preceded him in death. Dallas had seven siblings: Will (deceased), Napoleon, Benjamin Franklin, Warren Lee, Johnnie Wesley, Freddie Ray (deceased) and Verna Dean.

He was educated in the Denver Public School system and was a Manual High School graduate. Dallas joined the Marine Corps in 1964 and was honorably discharged in 1968. Dallas was employed with the City and County of Denver for 33 years. He retired in March 1998.

Dallas was the cornerstone; the chief foundation on which his family and extended family were built. It is well documented that Dallas served his country in an exemplary manner. However, his military service pales in comparison to his service to his family and friends.

It is without question, Dallas loved his wife. Wee Wee, as he lovingly called her, was the center of his world; the crown to her husband. None other could compare. He recognized the fine china he had come to acquire and treated her as precious merchandise. Caring for her and pleasing her was at the forefront of everything he did. They complimented each other and canceled out one another's deficits. Dallas honored his Wee Wee (Tiny Angel) and hailed her as the wife, best friend, mother of his children and the love of his life. It was a mutual love that span for over four decades.

In Dallas' heart is where the love of his children found peaceful rest. His eyes would light up when they settled upon them; revealing a reflective image of his love for them. His children knew that in his arms tranquility surely did exist. Consolation dwelt there also, enough to alleviate all their worries and fears. He showed them how to use obstacles as stepping stones to greater goals and how to rise above limiting beliefs. He was the gentle giant that melted in their presence.

Dallas loved to fish. Some of his best days were spent on a river bank, fishing with his Mother, whom he adored. He caught beautiful trout, succulent bass, and countless other delectable fish. But, more importantly, Dallas was a fisher of men. It was when he cast his net into the world that he gathered his greatest and most precious yield. He caught scores of sons and daughters; sisters and brothers; nieces and nephews; bound if not by blood, by the heart. He loved each and every one of them with an individual and selfless love.

Teaching was his life-long project. And, summers were his targeted season. Summer break for the children wasn't just a time for play. For Dallas, it was a time for their educational assessment, a review of retention of knowledge, and days filtered with assignments that challenged the academic levels of the willing and oftentimes not so willing participants. Dallas taught lessons that were beyond standard practices; lessons of honor, integrity, and the importance of keeping one's word. The teacher taught, and the children gathered around, for they knew in part that at the end of each session there was this large candy sack that even if blindfolded, they could find; and therein was their reward for being diligent students. They knew, too, that the candy was just a representation of the sweetness and goodness in the heart of their Teacher as he labored to instill lessons of value into their lives and sow good seed into their character.

Dallas repaired more bicycles, skates, leaky pipes, sprinkler heads, you name it, with little or no regard for compensation. This is a well-known fact. Perhaps, less known is his skillful and loving repair of those suffering from broken hearts, low self-esteem, and character assassinations. He always had the perfect tool in his tool box to repair the rips that tore at the hearts and fabric of others and to retrofit and reconstruct that which was in a state of perceived disrepair. Dallas was gifted with the spirit of acceptance of others, no matter how flawed the person. It was a gift that exceeded the capability and capacity of most individuals.

Dallas loved to cook. His sweet potato pies, blueberry pancakes and rum cakes were on his most often requested food list. But oh, to have savored his hot water cornbread! That bread had medicinal properties. It returned many who were sick to a state of restorative healing and should have been prescribed in lieu of some of today's pharmaceuticals. There was curative power in that bread, and no amount of debate will conclude otherwise.

Whether a game of physical skill or intellect, Dallas, more often than not, reigned victoriously. He was agile and alert during his physical contests, which led to the downfall of those who did not know him well or severely underestimated the "Big Guy", as he was lovingly referred to by close friends and loved ones. Maybe you didn't succeed in the physical contest and decided that an intellectual competition, such as dominos or bid whist, would culminate in success. Spoiler alert! Usually, after a couple rounds of play, Dallas would not only count the cards or dominos, he would voice which player was holding which card or domino, based on their previous play.

Dallas in his military service was charged with building bridges and then blowing them up. As a result, his focus and strategic thinking skills had been honed; and these characteristics were imbedded in his mental DNA. His intellect was at times, militarily speaking, disarming. After each game, the teacher in him would emerge, and he would gladly provide counsel to better prepare his opponents for the next game. Knowledge and love, he freely shared with others.

Dallas departed this life November 7, 2018. He leaves to celebrate his life: his devoted wife, Wilsie; two children from a previous union: Dallas, Jr. of Arizona and Donna (Franz); daughter: Deana; and son: Gregory Franklin; brothers: Napoleon Christian (Nina) of Denver; Benjamin Franklin Johnson of Denver; Warren Lee Johnson of Denver; Johnnie Wesley Johnson (Nataliya); sister: Verna Dean Johnson of Denver; grandchildren: Ryan, Warren, DeVon, Brandon; David and Taylor; and a host of beloved nieces, nephews, cousins, other relatives and friends.

Visitation : November 19, 2018 4:00 pm - 7:00 pm

Pipkin Braswell
6601 East Colfax Ave.
Denver, CO 80220

Celebration of Life : November 20, 2018 11:00 am

Pipkin Braswell Chapel of Peace
6601 Colfax Avenue
Denver, CO 80220
(303) 996-0869

Interment : November 20, 2018 2:00 pm

Fort Logan National Cemetery
3698 S Sheridan Blvd
Denver, CO 80235

Reception : November 20, 2018 3:00 pm

Pipkin Braswell Chapel of Peace
6601 Colfax Avenue
Denver, CO 80220
(303) 996-0869