Patricia (Pat) Branson Johnson

Patricia (Pat) Branson Johnson passed away on June 11, 2024, after a brief illness at Brookdale Northwest Hills Assisted Living, she was 100. She was born to Frank and Mary Branson on Nov 2, 1923, in Cleveland, OH, and grew up in Orville, OH, Gaylord, MI, and later moved to Indianapolis, IN where she graduated from the Arsenal Technical High School in 1941. Before moving to Texas in 1942 to attend the University of Texas at Austin, she worked for Eli Lilly. At UT she was a member of the Alpha Delta Pi sorority, majored in Latin American Studies and Spanish, and graduated in 1946. After her graduation, she married Franklin B. Johnson, Jr. on June 12, 1946 and worked as the secretary for Dean McCormick of the UT School of Law until Frank completed his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in 1949 and 1951. From 1951 to 1954 Frank’s work took them to Dallas and Houston with two stints in El Centro, CA, before moving back to Austin in 1955. Pat and Frank became members of the Austin Country Club in 1946 at the original Hancock location and maintained their membership for over 77 years. Pat celebrated her 100th birthday at the club and was honored as their longest tenured member. Pat enjoyed playing golf, weekly supper groups, and other special events offered to members. In her later years, Pat looked forward to her Tuesday lunches with friends, afterwards playing Gin Rummy in the Ladies Locker Room. They were also members of the Austin Club for more than 60 years where they enjoyed evenings dining and dancing with friends and celebrating New Year’s Eve and other special occasions. Pat was an active member of the Austin Bulldog Club, joining as a Charter Member in March 1973. She was recognized as “Member of the Year” in 1987 and received the “Presidents Award” in 1988 in recognition of outstanding accomplishments, being instrumental in the successful incorporation of the Austin Bulldog Club. Pat loved nature and animals; they had 9 bulldogs and 2 cats. After she was no longer able to care for her pets, she enjoyed watching and feeding the birds and squirrels on her back deck. She was preceded in death by her husband Frank of 60 years, her parents, and sister Bettie Branson Ward. She is survived by nephews Bradley Ward of San Antonio and Dr. Kent Ward of Edmond, OK. She is also survived by her cousin-in-law Isabel Clark, who made sure all of Pat’s needs were met after Frank passed, her husband Vernon Reed and their children (Pat’s “grandchildren”) Clark and Natalie Reed. Pat lived a very full life filled with wonderful friends with whom she shared her love of life, her sense of joy, and great sense of humor. It is remarkable that Pat managed to leave this earth to join Frank one day before their 78th wedding anniversary on June 12th, 2024. We would like to thank her at-home caregivers Yaneli Jaimes and Teresa Cruz, Enhabit Home Health providers, Brookdale NW Hills staff and residents, and Hospice Austin. A "Celebration of Life" service will be held at the Austin Country Club on July 11, 2024, at 11:00am. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to your local animal shelter, The Nature Conservancy, and Hospice Austin.