Johnny O'Neil Harper, age 76, of Huntsville, Texas, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, January 2, 2024 surrounded by family and friends in Conroe, Texas. He was born on September 17, 1947 to J.O. and Louvena Mae (Gilliam) Harper in Phillips, Texas.

As a child, Johnny lived in Borger, a Wild West boomtown nestled in the Texas Panhandle. It was not far from the Phillips 66 Refinery where his father worked as a Bailer Fireman. The family moved to Pasadena, Texas when Johnny was in the 3rd grade. After attending Sam Rayburn High  School, Johnny went to work. He started out at Pfeiffer Electrical and moved on to work at Shell Oil in Houston, Texas. He trained horses in Columbus, Texas for a bit then worked for Brown and Root Industrial Services. When his father retired from Phillips Petroleum as the Plant III Manager in 1977, Johnny began his career with Phillips.

Johnny met Mary Frances Jamison when they were in the 7th grade. They began a friendship that would last a lifetime and were married on September 30, 1966. Over the years they showed tolerance, patience, and endurance. It was truly for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health. They honestly cherished each other which is an example to family and friends that true love really exists.

Their first son, Jamie O'Neil Harper was born January 21, 1972 and passed as an infant on January 23, 1972. Their second son, Jason Otto Harper was born on October 25, 1975. In 1983, they adopted their daughter Kimberly Michelle Harper who was born on August 8, 1977. In 1978 the family moved to Deer Park, Texas. On October 23, 1989 a series of explosions occurred at thePhillips Petroleum Chemical Complex where Johnny worked. He survived the explosion with debilitating trauma including a closed head injury. Due to this, he officially retired from Phillips in1992. After years of surgeries and physical therapy, the Doctor's advised him to live a simpler life so the family moved to Lakeland in Riverside, just outside of Huntsville, Texas in 1998.

Johnny was the type that could not sit still. In Deer Park, he was active in the community by serving on the Deer Park Little League Baseball board of Directors. He loved to care for the fields and mowed and manicured them often. Johnny and Mary were known for hosting and preparing Friday Football lunches for the Deer Park High School Football team.

Johnny never met a stranger and could start up a conversation with just about anybody who would listen. He loved to have fun and enjoyed nature just the way God created it. He was known for being an avid outdoorsman that loved hunting, fishing, gardening and getting on Mary's nerves. He has collected and used just about every type of lure or trap known to man. He loved to barter and would often visit the pawn shops and go garage sale hopping. He would say this was a "once in a life time" deal. From fishing and selling catfish, to tinkering around the property, to becoming a short-term chicken farmer there wasn't much Johnny didn't do. He also volunteered his time with Texas Parks and Wildlife as a Youth Mentor. He was an Honorary Member of the Riverside Volunteer Fire Department and was a Member of the Huntsville Firefighters Auxiliary where he assisted on fire scenes with rehab. As technology advanced, he became an avid YouTube fan and even began preparing for doomsday. This one he really had fun with. He prepped and canned everything from dry beans to meat. He even buried canned beans in the back yard that we will probably never find. His pride and joy was raising his son and daughter. He and Jason could be found down at the fishing hole or participating in fishing tournaments.

In his later years he spent his time passing on ALL of his knowledge and techniques (some are questionable) to his grandchildren. He enjoyed watching them grow up, attended their activities and was so proud of their accomplishments. He was quirky and full of grit, yet he had patience. He loved to watch the Outdoor Boys (on YouTube) and this added to many of his "projects". He faithfully began each day with Bass fishing pro Jimmy Houston's devotional, spiritual insights and fishing tips series. From "Catch a Better Life" to "Reflections at First Light", the wisdom from the Bible along with plenty of savvy fishing advice, flourished his relationship with his Lord and Savior. From Dad to Grandpa to G-Dad to Uncle Johnny to Mr. Harper and many other titles, he will be missed by all.

Johnny is survived by his wife of 57 years, Mary Frances (Jamison) Harper; son, Jason Harper and wife Kristen of Montgomery, Texas; daughter, Kimberly (Harper) Robinson and husband Shawn of Hempstead, Texas; grandchildren, Keegan Harper, Kinley and Kylar Robinson, Jade Westbrook and husband Kyle; great-grandchildren, Blair, Rafe and Asher Westbrook;  Nephew, Wayne Moody and wife Janna of Liberty, Texas; nieces, Mary-Margaret (Jamison) Gulihur and husband Robert of Pasadena, Texas, Melissa(Jamison) Robinson and husband Todd of Cedar Park, Texas; great-nephews, Joshua Moody and wife Stephanie, Michael Moody, Matthew Jamison and Nelson Robinson; great-nieces, Jewel (Moody) Davis and husband Adam, Heather Moody, Allyson Gulihur, Lauren( Gulihur) and spouse Kayleigh Kantowski, Tricia Robinson, and Cloe Robinson. For over twenty years and dear to his heart were  Jacob French and wife Lexie, Jeffrey French and companion Nicole Harris of Huntsville, Texas, also known as his grandsons. Over the past few years he developed a very special friendship with Grayden, Heath and Iyla Stanley-Jones of Huntsville, Texas. Johnny was preceded in death by his son, Jamie O'Neil Harper (Infant), parents, J.O. and Louvena Harper, and sister, Ann Ellen (Harper) Bayless. Johnny leaves behind many friends and extended family.