Rebecca Marie (Friemel) Johnson was born October 19, 1958, in Canyon, Texas, to Jerome and Romilda Friemel. She grew up in Hereford, where she was active in piano, dance, Camp Fire Girls, CYO, and high school Orchestra. She excelled in music and received many awards, and during college performed with the Amarillo Symphony.
She met Kurt Johnson at West Texas State University and they married in 1983. Becky was a member of the Chi Omega fraternity and was named KA Sweetheart at WTSU. She earned a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology at WTSU, and after moving to Plano, Texas, earned a Master’s degree in Neuroscience & Cognition at UT Dallas.
She loved being a mother to their daughters, Berkley and Bethany. She and Kurt spent over a year in Jakarta, with his employment, and they enjoyed learning about the culture of the Indonesian people. She was very involved with her daughters, and loved taking them to their many activities growing up: dance, piano, Girl Scout cookie sales, church activities and many play dates.
While at UT Dallas, Becky worked as a Graduate Teacher/Research Assistant. She and the girls returned to the panhandle, settling in Lubbock. She continued her education by earning a Master’s degree in Educational Psychology & Counseling, and was near completion of her Doctoral degree at Texas Tech University, where she worked as a psychometrics specialist in the Department of Educational Psychology and Leadership.
In 2014, Becky moved back to Hereford where she was employed by the Hereford ISD. She loved family gatherings, growing irises, crossword puzzles, reading, sewing, crochet, and jewelry making in her spare time. She was a huge fan of books, many kinds of music, classic and modern movies, and the Lawrence Welk Show.
In her own words, she was an ‘Academic, Travel Junkie, Lover of Music, Laughter, Art, Psychology, Science, and Passionate about Education. ’ Becky was preceded in death by her father Jerome. She is survived by her daughters, Dr. Berkley Johnson-Luk of Houston, and Bethany Johnson of San Antonio; her mother Romilda of Hereford; sisters Karen Fangman & husband Ronnie of Vega, AnnaBeth Baker & husband Steve of Canyon; and brothers Barry Friemel & wife Nancy of Georgetown and Randy Friemel & wife Angela of Hereford.
Her many nieces, nephews, cousins, aunts and uncles will miss her dearly. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the American Heart Association or the National Alliance for Mental Illness. Rosary will be at 6:00pm Friday, Nov.
23, at Brooks Funeral Home in Canyon, and Funeral Mass at 10:00am Saturday, Nov. 24, at St. Mary’s Church in Umbarger.
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