Betty Jo Johnston, beloved wife, mother, sister, grandmother, and friend, passed away peacefully on October 25th, 2024, after a long battle with Alzheimer's disease.

Born on February 2, 1946, in Memphis, Tennessee, Betty Jo spent her life surrounding those she loved with laughter and love. Known for her sharp wit and sense of humor, Betty Jo had an incredible ability to bring smiles and laughter wherever she went. She had a way of finding joy in life's little moments, often with a remark or clever joke to lighten any mood. Her lively spirit was contagious, making her a treasured friend to all who knew her.

In the 1960s, Betty Jo became an inadvertent part of history when she was hired by TRW as a 'computress' for NASA, where she plotted azimuth graphs for Poppy Northcott and worked inside Mission Control when Apollo 8 was launched. While in Shreveport, she worked at SportsSpectrum for many years and was adored by customers and her coworker "kids".

Betty Jo was also an avid gardener, and her green thumb was evident in the beautiful plants and flowers she nurtured over the years. A gifted cook, Betty Jo was known for being able to whip up creative meals with the most basic of ingredients. She was famous for her shrimp creole, baked 'SOK' chicken, homemade Butterfinger ice cream, German breakfast pancake, and apple cake.

One of Betty Jo's greatest joys in life was her love for animals, especially dogs. She shared her life with many beloved dogs over the years, each one finding a special place in her heart.

She is survived by her devoted husband Ron, with whom she shared twenty-one years of marriage filled with love, laughter, and partnership. She is also survived by her children, Kelly McCastlain, Joseph (Debbie) McCastlain, Holly (Chris) Herman; her stepdaughter, Lacy (José) Hernandez; her granddaughter, Abigail McCastlain, and her step-grandson, Alexander; her brother Jimmy (Brenda) Leach and her sister Susan (Gene) Williams, all of whom will forever remember her warmth, unconditional love, and humor.

Betty Jo is preceded in death by her parents, Flora Bess Leach and Joseph Macon Leach. Her memory will continue to live on through her family, friends, and everyone fortunate enough to have known her.

The family would like to thank the Memory Care unit at The Glen for the care and kindness they gave Betty Jo.  We ask that in lieu of flowers, donations be made in her name to the Alzheimer's Association.