Graveside service for Bernetta Joye Johnston will be at 1:00 p.m. on Tuesday, September 16, 2025, in the Chapel of Peace Mausoleum at Sunset Memorial Gardens in Lawton, Oklahoma.

Services are under the direction of Becker-Rabon Funeral Home.

Joye passed from this life on Saturday, September 13, 2025, at the age of 94. She was born on March 10, 1931, to Samuel and Elizabeth (McManus) Baucom in Ripley County, Doniphan, Missouri. Her father was a World War I veteran so after the U.S. was attacked and entered World War II he moved the family to Rockford, Illinois in 1942 to help in the defense efforts. Joye graduated from East Rockford High School in June of 1949 and on April 23, 1950, she married Amos "Speed" Johnston in Rockford at the Jefferson Street Church of Christ where they were both members. They were both employed by the Greenlee Tool Co. in Rockford until Mr. Johnston was drafted into the U.S. Army in 1953. They came to the Lawton-Fort Sill community in 1954 while Mr. Johnston was still serving in the Army. Mr. Johnston preceded her in death on January 10, 1991, after being diagnosed with a rare lung disease. Joye attended Cameron University for a short time and was employed as a legal secretary in several law offices. She was appointed by District Judge Toby Morris on January 2, 1968, as a District Court Reporter. After Judge Morris retired, she was appointed by District Judge Jack Brock to the same position where she served until her retirement in July of 1988. She received the Oklahoma Shorthand Reporter Certificate after passing the tests on January 10, 1970. She was a member of the Oklahoma Shorthand Reporters Association and served as a board member for a short time. After retirement Joye was busy caring for her husband, her home, lawn and flowers, her church and enjoying friends and family. She was a member of the Northwest Church of Christ.

Preceding her in death were her parents, her husband, three sisters and their husbands, Helen and George Bonnell of Doniphan, Missouri, Rita Faye and Ernest Nagel of Colorado Springs, Colorado, and Marjorie and Donald Pugh of Dayton, Ohio, three nieces, Carol Hile of San Antonio, Texas, Barbara Miller and Kay Meredith of Abilene, Texas, nieces by marriage, Margaret Bonnell of Doniphan, Missouri and Carol Nagel of Colorado Springs, Colorado.

Joye is survived by her nephew, Charles Wilford Bonnell and wife Carolyn of Doniphan, Missouri, nephew, Clinton Nagel and wife Ann of Bozeman, Montana, nephew, Gregory Nagel of Colorado Springs, Colorado, niece, Suzanne Goeke and husband Roger of South Lake, Texas, niece, Dianna Gale and husband Jack of Oldsmar, Florida, and nephew, David Pugh and wife Darlene of Calera, Alabama, nephews by marriage, Patrick Hile of San Antonio, Texas, Tom Miller and Floyd Meredith, both of Abilene, Texas.

Memorial contributions may be made to Tipton's Children's Home of Tipton, Oklahoma and Westview Boys' Home of Hollis, Oklahoma.

An online guest book and sympathy cards are available at www.beckerfuneral.com