Dates
Johnnie Sue Hyatt Gist of San Angelo, Texas transitioned to her next journey at her home on the morning of December 10, 2024.
Visitation will be held on Saturday, December 14, 2024, from 5:00-7:00pm at Harper Funeral Home. Graveside service will be held on Monday, December 16, 2024, at 1:00pm at Lawnhaven Memorial Gardens.
Johnnie Sue was born on November 4,1935 in San, Angelo Texas to her parents John L. Hyatt and Susie Bauerlein Smetana. After John L. Hyatt’s death overseas in the war, Susie remarried Amil Smetana.
In 1952 she married the love of her life, David Murell Gist. After graduating high school, Johnnie Sue obtained a business degree from Angelo State University, and eventually put her husband through pharmacy college while working and starting a family. Together, she and David would go on to form successful businesses like Gist Pharmacy and Gist Rentals.
However, Johnnie’s passion for learning and volunteering with children led her back to the university. She decided to pursue her Master’s Degree in Education and would go on to teach generations of elementary school students in San Angelo, educating them through field trips, project based learning, and instilling a curiosity for the world around them.
Johnnie Sue and her husband, David were active members in various dance clubs and adored ballroom dancing. And though she came from humble beginnings, Johnnie Sue traveled the world with her family and spared no opportunity to educate them on the history of their surroundings. She would speak fondly of her time in Paris, France and the healing journey of finally visiting her father’s grave in Europe after reconnecting with survivors of his unit and other war orphans.
We know that Johnnie Sue is finally reconnecting with the ones she’d loved and lost along the way, and taking her final dance across the star studded skies of the place she always called home: Texas.
Johnnie Sue was preceded in death by her husband David, youngest son, James Christian Gist, and younger brother J.L. Hyatt.
Johnnie Sue is survived by her daughter Mary Catherine Gist Ott of San Angelo, daughter-in-law, Mary Jane Gist of Coleman, and son, Michael Gist and wife, Shelia of San Angelo, Texas. She is also survived by her many grandchildren: Jeffrey Beck, Tasha Nicole Adcock, Lacy LaMontagne, Abra Gist, James Zachary Gist, Gavin Gist, Jennifer Gist, and Kimberly Gist. She is survived by great-grandchildren as well: Hayden Beck, Saya LaMontague, Caleb Hernandez-Gist, Kayden Gist, and Kendall Sanchez. She is also survived by her cousin, Richard Bauerlein, of San Angelo and her beloved nephew, John Hyatt of Fort Worth.
The family would like to thank the Visiting Angels and Angels Care Hospice of San Angelo. In lieu of flowers please send donations to St. Judes Childrens Hospital or Wounded Warriors.