Dr. Linda Johnson Hunt passed away peacefully at home surrounded by her family on February 12, 2022 after a long illness that she said was part of life as you go on down the road.

Linda Mae Johnson was born on May 28, 1943, to Linnon Maurice Johnson and Edna Mae Camp Johnson in San Antonio, Texas. Though born in Texas, Linda’s heart belonged to the red dirt of Grady County’s Washita Valley, where her parents moved when she was young.

Always a farmgirl, Linda loved to spend time with her daddy outside from sunup to sundown and had little time for the activities that were expected of a young lady at the time. She could often be found fishing, exploring the river, riding horses, bringing up the milk cows, or working with her many 4-H project calves that financed her college education.

As a young girl, Linda was struck, like many children of that time, with polio. She spent many months in the Comanche County hospital by herself looking out at the view of Mt. Scott. During this time, her determination to become a doctor grew, and she thrived despite dealing with the effects of her polio infection for the rest of her life.

Upon graduation from Chickasha High School and Oklahoma College for Women (now the University of Science and Arts of Oklahoma), Linda attended the University of Oklahoma Medical School. She was always determined to help those in need medically and even embarked upon a medical internship mission to Ghana and Malaysia after completing medical school.

Always one to break barriers, Dr. Johnson reasoned, lobbied, and cajoled until she was accepted as the first woman ever into OU’s surgical program. Upon completion of her residency, she returned to Chickasha and began practicing at the Chickasha Clinic (now Southern Plans Medical Group) and Grady Memorial Hospital. Despite some thinking that surgery was not the right place for a “little slip of a girl,” Dr. Johnson persevered and built a thriving practice until her full retirement in 2017

Soon after moving back to Chickasha, Dr. Johnson married Clayton Hunt, and they had three children – Gina, David and Mahlon Houston – and settled on a farm in the Cement area near Lake Burtschi. A devoted mother, she juggled many roles as she supported and cheered her children in many activities, sang in the church choir, trained & mentored numerous other nurses, doctors and physician assistants, and operated at all hours of the day and night.

In 1990, Dr. Johnson found her best friend in life, Martha Jean Schenk, and they proceeded to build a life of fun, family and friendship. They split their time between their Chickasha home and their beloved lake house on Buncombe Creek at Lake Texoma.

When not operating, Dr. Johnson loved gardening – she was renowned for her green thumb, fishing for a 60-pound catfish or really anything else that swam, watching the birds at her birdfeeders, and caring for her beloved pets, especially Tiny, Prissy and Pyro.

Linda is proceeded in death by both of her parents; her beloved baby sister, Luna Rose Johnson Burnett; her cherished daughter, Gina Marie Hunt; and her best friend in life, Martha Jean Schenk.

She is survived by her sister Marylin Johnson Nease and her husband, Charles, of Dallas; sister Frances Johnson Flinn and her husband, Larry, of Ft. Worth; son David Hunt and his wife, Candace, of McKinney, Tx; son Houston Hunt and his husband, Taylor Hill, of Mustang; and grandchildren Jordynn, Kaitlin, Case, and Reese, as well as many loved nieces and nephews.

A special thanks goes to Mom’s Angel, Janie Miracle. After they worked together for years, Ms. Janie came out of retirement when Dr. Johnson needed a little help and became her loving caregiver and partner in crime – planting flowers, working in the yard, and exploring the countryside.

Thank you to Dr. Johnson’s gentle giant, Taylor, who put so many of his dreams and plans on hold to spend time with and look after Mom. No matter the adventure or task, he was happy to help Dr. Johnson; whether it was taking her to see old friends, fixing things around the house, feeding her plant addiction, or picking up a sweet tea he was there for her.

Thank you also goes to the amazing caregiving team of Amanda, Carma, Karen, and Winter. They took care of Dr. Johnson like she was their own mother – with love, dedication, and compassion.

We could not have honored Mom’s wishes without the amazing support and guidance of Andrea Roberts and also, the Lifeline Hospice team, including Kelly and Loxie, as well as the almost daily support from April, Tabitha, Amy, Julie and Dr. Johnson’s longtime colleague, Dr. Hess.

The family will host a public celebration of Dr. Johnson’s life later this year. Details for the celebration will be shared on www.celebratingdrjohnson.com. Here, you can share your favorite Dr. Johnson memory, as well as see pictures from her life.

In lieu of food or flowers, the family encourages you to donate your time, talent, or treasure to any of Linda’s cherished causes or the charity of your choice.

Some of the causes Dr. Johnson was passionate about are the Stephenson Cancer Center at OU Health, Relay for Life for Grady-Caddo Counties, Alzheimer’s Association, Parkinson’s Foundation, Palomar, and Special Young Adults in Chickasha.