Doris Luella (Walker) Johnson

A beloved and respected Oklahoma educator has passed away at age 94. Doris Luella Walker Johnson, a long-time resident of Sallisaw and Sequoyah County, Oklahoma passed away January 15, 2026 in Fayetteville, Arkansas. Mrs. Johnson taught high school at Central High School (Sallisaw) before teaching First Grade at both Liberty Elementary and Eastside in Sallisaw. Known for caring for all her students, she taught a combined 50-1/2 years. In those years Mrs. Johnson taught more than nine hundred First-Grade students reading-and-writing, High School typing and business classes, and several hundred more elementary-age students following her official retirement. She served under ten principals and nine superintendents. As Sallisaw’s “Teacher of the Year—1983”, Mrs. Johnson was a member of Alpha Delta Kappa, Alpha Sigma Alpha, National Education Association & Oklahoma Education Association for 43 years. Also elected to “Who’s Who Among Outstanding Teachers of America—1974”, she was nominated by the Oklahoma Bar Association to the “Oklahoma Education Association Millennium “Hall of Fame”. She was a member of First Baptist Church in Sallisaw.

After marrying her husband of sixty years, the late Howard Jerry Johnson, also of Sallisaw, the couple made their home in Paris, France (Maisons-Laffitte), followed by the St. Louis, Missouri area. then returning to Oklahoma.

Mrs. Johnson is survived by one son, Dr. Barrett Ashley Johnson, of Fayetteville, Arkansas; Six nieces: Deborah Elaine Cheek Sparks of Tulsa, Oklahoma, Carolyn Johnson of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, Sandy Johnson Price of Phoenix, Arizona, Joella Tanner of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, Beverly Morris of Seminole, Oklahoma, and Margaret Johnson of Oregon. Three nephews: Robert Johnson of Oregon, Ronnie Johnson and Billy Johnson of Seminole, Oklahoma. Mrs. Johnson was preceded in death by her late husband Howard Jerry Johnson of Sallisaw, Oklahoma; her parents, James Lester Walker and Bessie Mae (Staffan) Walker; one sister, Blanche Roberta (Record) Cheek and one brother, Dr. Russell Walker. She also leaves behind many other loved relatives and a host of beloved friends, teaching colleagues, and cherished former students.

Viewing and visitation with the family will be 6 - 8 PM Thursday and 6 - 8 PM Friday at Agent Mallory Martin Funeral Home in Sallisaw. A Service of Remembrance and Celebration of Life will be held at 10:00 AM on Saturday, April 25, 2026 in the sanctuary of First Presbyterian Church, Fort Smith, Arkansas. In lieu of flowers the public are asked to contribute at this time and in the future to the Sallisaw Education Foundation, Inc. - PO Box 276 - Sallisaw, OK 74955.