Luginbuel South Grand Lake Funeral Home, 918-782-4400………Melveena (Fillman) Johnson
passed away on December 15, 2017 from complications of congestive heart failure. She was born on
December 26, 1930 to Gettis and Charlotte (Parsons) Fillman in Ketchum,
Oklahoma. She was the 6th of 9 children; 6 boys and 3 girls. While she endured frequent teasing
and pranks from her brothers, she had a close bond with each of her siblings. In 1949, she
married Charles Kenneth Johnson in Cleburne Texas. They built a house on land that Charles
owned and there they had their first child, Joseph. When steady work was hard to find, they
moved to California, at the recommendation of Melveena’s brother. They settled in Riverside, in
1951, where Charles found work as a Machinist. Later, Melveena became a foster parent to
developmentally disabled children and fulfilled a life-long dream of becoming a registered nurse.
While in California, 3 daughters were born; Jeanie, Janice, and Jennifer.
In 1975, Charles and Melveena purchased a house on Lake Hudson, in Locust Grove, Oklahoma
from Charles’ uncle. Melveena became the school nurse of Locust Grove School District, caring
for hundreds of kids each day for 19 years. she was a member of the Ketchum Seventh-day Adventist
Church. She and Charles were the leaders of the youth group, Pathfinders, both in Riverside and
Ketchum. Melveena would plan campouts and cook for large groups, making delicious food. In
1985, she and Charles sold their lake house and bought the old Fillman family farm situated on
52 acres. The property had been in the family for over 100 years. Sadly, after Christmas in 2001,
the old farmhouse burned to the ground and they were forced to rebuild while in their
seventies. Melveena’s last days were spent at this home, surrounded by her four children.
Family was very important to her and she planned many family reunions - looking forward to
each one. Some of her favorite things were singing, growing flowers, cooking and crafting.
She is preceded by her late husband Charles, her parents, three brothers and one sister. She is
survived by her four children; Joseph Johnson of Vinita, Oklahoma, Jeanie Penington of Saint
Helena, California, Janece Johnson of Adair, Oaklahoma and Jennifer Ramos of San Diego,
California, as well as seven grandchildren,14 great grandchildren, and a great, great grandchild.
There will be a visitation at Luginbuel South Grand Lake Funeral Home, 13168 East Highway
28, Langley, Oklahomaon Monday, December 18, 2017 from 5-7 pm and a graveside service on Tuesday,
December 19, 2017 at 10am at Ketchum Cemetery.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Melveena Johnson, please visit our Heartfelt Sympathies Store.