Willard Johnson

The world, particularly the art world, lost a wonderful, beautiful spirit this week: Willard E. Johnson II. His family, friends, and colleagues gathered to celebrate his life yesterday at a beautiful service of remembrance at First Presbyterian Church Oklahoma City, his church home since 1947.

I was able to give Willard my gift of music, playing old gospel favorites on my flute, with John Edwards at the piano. Some of these hymns were The Old Rugged Cross, Softly and Tenderly, and one of my all-time favorites, In the Garden. Pastor Matt Meinke read meaningful scripture from Psalms 23 and 46, Isaiah 40, Romans 8, and John 14, and shared a moving meditation with the family and congregation about Willard and his faith, and Jesus' promise of Eternal Life. Robert Meister, long-time friend of Willard, and Willard's grandson Kris, gave emotional, yet humorous tributes to a man they admired, respected, and loved so much.

I met Willard only 2 months ago, seeking his help with the auction for the Shepherd Sisters artwork. Every time I called people trying to find someone to do appraisals, I got the same answer: "Call Willard Johnson of Colonial. He can help you." Consequently, he and I spent hours walking around the halls of Shepherd Manor. During that time we discussed each piece and he gave me appraisal values, comments and history on each one of them. He actually had seen the locations where some of the landscapes were painted, and had met the Shepherd Sisters. While discussing one particular painting of an orchard, he told me about the time he and a friend had picked peaches from the Shepherd family's orchard, with an angry Mr. Shepherd chasing them off the property. He laughed so hard telling that story.

During the service, Robert Meister or Kris Kanaly quoted Willard as saying: "art becomes art when one single person says it is". Let us all celebrate our own art and creativity and those of others by remembering that saying. The world would be a better place for it.

God Bless you, Willard.