Art Johnson

Funeral services for Mr. Arvis Ray "Art" Johnson, age 70, of Cookeville, will be held at 11 a.m. Thursday, June 2 at the Cookeville Chapel of Hooper Huddleston and Horner Funeral Home with Bill Gibson officiating. Interment with military honors will follow at Cookeville City Cemetery. The family will receive friends Wednesday from 5 - 8 p.m. and again Thursday from 10 a.m. until service time at the funeral home. Mr. Johnson passed away suddenly, Saturday, May 28 at Cookeville Regional Medical Center. He was born April 10, 1946 in Overton County, TN to the late Milburn and Tina Kate Johnson In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife, Charlene Bilbrey Johnson; three brothers, Wilmoth, Joffrey, and Kioto Johnson. Mr. Johnson was a former member of the TN Army National Guard. He received his Bachelor degree in Biology from TTU in 1970. He worked for WHUB radio, and later worked as a Police Officer with the Cookeville Police Department. Art graduated from Nashville School of Law in 1988. He then served as the Assistant Public Defender for the 13th Judicial District in Tennessee until retirement in 2009. He is survived by two daughters and a son-in-law, Jamie Johnson, Elecia and Jeff Palk all of Cookeville; a foster daughter and son-in-law, Angela and Terry Key of Celina; two brothers and sisters-in-law, R.L. and Jonestta Johnson of Livingston, Carvel and Bobbi Johnson of Akron, OH; four sisters and two brothers-in-law, Mary Jo and Hal Denton of Cookeville, Betty Lou Copeland of Rickman, Judy and Hoyt Padgett of Livingston, Wanda Schultz of New Castle, CA; two grandchildren, Ciri Palk and Bethany Key; and his dog Brandy. Family and friends will serve as pallbearers. Memorial contributions may be made to the Cookeville/Putnam County Animal Shelter, 2650 Gainesboro Grade, Cookeville, TN 38501, or AARF, P.O. Box 4074, Cookeville, Tennessee 38502. Hooper Huddleston and Horner Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements. (931)526-6111 You may share your thoughts and memories at www.hhhfunerals.com