This obituary has been placed on our website as a courtesy to the Johnson-McCook family in Suwannee County. Mrs. Betty was a beautiful sweet soul. She was a dedicated wife, mother and grandmother. Her daughter Pam Allen works tirelessly at our Hamilton County Emergency Management Offices. She helps keeps the CERT team trained and up to date on all credentials and certifications, just one of her many duties. Pam our thoughts and prayers are with you and your family during this difficult time.

My Mom, Betty Jean McCook Johnson was born on January 15, 1946 to Willie McCook and Evie Gill McCook. Her Parents were farmers in Falmouth. They lived in a log cabin where my Mom was born. She had an older sister, Helen Frances McCook Pearson. Frances was born with red hair and fair skin, because of this she always had to do the chores inside the home. Mom was born with brown hair and a darker complexion. She was a "tom-boy". Mom's first job was to drive a tractor in the tobacco fields at the age of 5. Since she was unable to reach the brake Uncle Jack would meet her at the barn to stop the tractor and turn it around so she could drive back to the field. Since Mom did the outdoor chores she became an avid fisherman and squirrel slayer. My Mom and her Sister both thought squirrel was a delicacy. Her family home was always the gathering place for many friends and family, so they always had to share their delicacy. Mom attended the one-room school in Falmouth until her Parents decided it was time to move the family to the town of Live Oak. She began riding the school bus into town. The school bus is where she met her husband, Stanley Johnson. After dating for a few years, my Dad's family was relocating to Gainesville. It was then my Dad decided he could not live without her. So they eloped to Statenville, Georgia on August 31, 1962. My Parents moved to Gainesville where Dad got a job with Publix Supermarkets. Three years later they decided they needed something new and exciting so they had me! I was born Pamela Renee Johnson (Allen) Now in the beginning my Mom wanted a large family. But two years later along came a son, Stanley R. Johnson, Jr. and that was enough. When I started school at Stephen Foster Elementary School in Gainesville, Mom became the "home-room mom". Every Easter and Halloween my whole class would travel to our house for a party. In second grade Mom became a Brownie and then a Girl Scout Leader. She would also get up early on Sat. mornings and sit most of the day at the skating rink so I could participate in figure and free style skating. Mom taught Sunday school during the summer at Westside Christian Church. Mom always kept us involved giving up her time for us and others. My Dad retired from Publix so they decided it was time to move back to Live Oak. Mom and her family members were Charter Members who began the Live Oak Christian Church on Dec. 06, 1959. So once again, Mom became a teacher and Leader taking the Youth on many trips and activities. She began another career when she began working at Live Oak Jewelry. She retired after 12 years. After taking a couple years off she began working for Friedman's Jewelers. She worked in the Lake City Store and then opened the Live Oak Store where she continued to work for 17 years. Mom continued to love the outdoors and its adventures. Her Grandsons, Ryne and Bryne enjoyed growing up at her beach house on Cedar Island. They both learned to net fish, scallop and ski at a very young age. In their teen-age years she owned a home on the Suwannee River where they would fish and boat. When Mom grew tired of the river it was time to buy a mountain home. But not just any mountain home would do. We had to have a two-story wood house at the highest mountain in Georgia and on a river. Boats were traded for kayaks and tubes. Rods and reels were traded for fly fishing rods. When Mom was home in Live Oak it wasn't uncommon to find her in her pool. Mom has always tried to do the best she could for everyone. She never met a stranger. She really had a love for people. She loved, assisted, cared, laughed and taught many. Mom fought the good fight, finished the race, and kept the faith. 2 Timothy 4:7.