Dr. Lesta Burt Johnson

Dr. LESTA BURT JOHNSON Dr. Lesta Burt Johnson died September 22, 2011. Lesta Jeanne Norris was born to Lester Norris and Gladys Pummel Norris on January 24, 1928 in Harmon, Oklahoma. She was preceded in death by her parents; husband Kenneth Bates; husband Wayne Burt; and son Norris Bates. She is survived by husband, Glennon Johnson; brother Dr. Larry Norris, Sr and wife, Frances; son, Dr. Kenneth Bates; daughter, Susan Burt Polnick and husband Stephen. Surviving grandchildren are Kevin Bates, Cassandra Bates, Jessica Bates and Jennifer Bates. Nancy Monter and Larry Norris, Jr. are Lesta’s niece and nephew whose children are Julia and Matthew Monter and Courtney Norris. Surviving stepchildren are Steven Burt and wife Anne, Philip Burt and wife Kelly, Richard Burt and wife Marcelyn, Deborah Wood and husband Ray, and Judy Asa and husband James. Surviving step grandchildren are Michael Burt, Madison Burt, Mary Burt, Julie Yargo and husband John, James and Jordan Asa. Great-grandchildren are Cheyenne and Dakota Yargo. Lesta grew up in Fort Worth, Texas, received her high school diploma from Paschal High School, her bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Texas Woman’s University and her doctorate from the University of Wisconsin in Madison. She taught school or was librarian in Garland, Arlington and Fort Worth Texas before coming to Sam Houston State University to teach in 1966. She was the Department Chair of the Library Science Department from 1966 until 1980 when she took a leave of absence to live in South Africa. She returned to SHSU in 1982 and taught as a professor until she retired in 1991. While at SHSU, she instituted flexible schedules so teachers could keep their positions while continuing their education, was instrumental in starting the master’s degree program, instituted off campus teaching, secured and administered two federally funded nation-wide master’s degree institutes, and led a drive to establish an adolescent book award from The Texas Library Association. Dear to her heart are old friends from her childhood in Fort Worth and friends held close through the years in Garland and Huntsville and Elkins Lake, the First United Methodist Church Sunday School Class and church, her two book clubs, her two bridge groups, and the Quadelles. She is especially grateful for her caring and loving husband, Glenn; son Ken; daughter, Susan and her son-in-law, Stephen. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to: The Lesta Burt Johnson Scholarship Fund, mail to: Darlene Andrews, SHSU, University Advancement, P. O. Box 2537, Huntsville, Texas 77341. (Make checks payable to SHSU and in memo write Lesta Burt Johnson Endowment) Funeral services will be held Monday, September 26, 2011, 10:00 a.m., at First United Methodist Church in Huntsville, Texas with burial to follow at Brooke Cemetery in Huntsville. Family will receive friends Sunday, September 25, 2011, 4:00-6:00 p.m. at Sam Houston Memorial Funeral Home in Huntsville. Those wishing to leave memorial condolences for the family may do so at www.shmfh.com

Dr. Lesta Burt Johnson

January 24, 1928 - September 26, 2011