ANCIL JOHNSON

LIBERAL- Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Thursday at the First Christian Church of Liberal for Ancil Austin Johnson, 78, Liberal, who died at 12:42 a.m. Friday, March 11, 2022, at Mercy Hospital in Joplin. Burial will follow at the Barton City Cemetery in Liberal.

Visitation will be held from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. Wednesday at Daniel Funeral Home in Lamar.

Memorial contributions are suggested and may be made payable to First Christian Church of Liberal or The Parkinson's Foundation, in care of the funeral home.

Condolences may be sent at www.dfhlamar.com.

Survivors include his wife Karen, of the home; two sons, Jason and wife Carolyn, Liberal and Jeremie and wife Debby, Pittsburg, Kan.; four daughters, Christine Davis, St. Louis, Tiona Rodriguez and husband Jesus, Ardmore, Okla., Marie Morgan, Overland Park, Kan. and Syndi Young and husband Kyle, Lamar; 14 grandchildren; four great-grandchildren; one brother, Keith and his life partner Peggy Conden; two sisters, Theta Steinert, Springfield and Pat Bennett, Kissee Mills; four nephews and two nieces.

He was preceded in death by an infant daughter, Latricia Ann.

Mr. Johnson was born May 6, 1943, in Lake Springs, to Edward Austin and Virgie M. (Weaver) Johnson. He attended and graduated high school in Rolla and went on to college at SMS Springfield, where he completed a degree in Agriculture. He married Karen Kay Beachler on Jan. 5, 1963.

He served in the Navy for three years as an air traffic controller before pursuing his field in agriculture. He was employed at Aggieville in Springfield and later Lipscomb Elevators in Springfield, before transferring to Liberal, where they have resided for over 50 years.

He and his wife purchased 80 acres just outside of town in the early 1970’s. Through the years he worked for Goldcoast Seed Company and KanAg in Lockwood. He had a few business adventures along the way, including co-owner of the Liberal car wash and tire shop. He was owner and operator of AAA Feed Store. In 1980 he and his wife became turkey growers for ConAgra for the next 20 years.

He purchased additional property in the area and became a full-time cattle farmer. Due to failing health, his son Jason and grandson Austin have maintained the farm for the past 10 years with his guidance.

He and his wife had a daughter Latricia that died shortly after birth, in 1964. Unable to have biological children, they adopted twin boys Jason and Jeremie at age two and later a 10 year old girl, Christine. The couple had many foster children through the years come into their home. Lastly, three girls, Tiona, Marie, and Syndi, making their family complete.

Mr. Johnson enjoyed the outdoors, spending any free-time riding motorcycles, horseback riding, hunting and fishing. He loved his family, but most of all he loved the Lord. He was a member of the Christian Church of Liberal, where he served on the board as a deacon and elder for 35 years before stepping down due to his declining health.