The Funeral of Billy Eugene Johnson

Welcome

Friends and family we are gathered today to remember and celebrate the life of Billy Johnson. My name is Cal Callison and I am the pastor of First Baptist Church in Salisbury. Thank you for the honor of sharing in these brief moments with you.

Let’s go before the Lord in prayer as we begin.

Prayer

Scripture Reading:

Psalm 46:1–7 ESV

1 God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. 2 Therefore we will not fear though the earth give way, though the mountains be moved into the heart of the sea, 3 though its waters roar and foam, though the mountains tremble at its swelling. Selah 4 There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God, the holy habitation of the Most High. 5 God is in the midst of her; she shall not be moved; God will help her when morning dawns. 6 The nations rage, the kingdoms totter; he utters his voice, the earth melts. 7 The Lord of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress. Selah

Read the Obituary:

Billy Eugene Johnson, 89, of Keytesville, Missouri, passed away on Saturday,July 18, 2026, in Glasgow, Missouri. Billy was born on March 6, 1937, in Keytesville, Missouri, the eldest son of Ronaldo Vonceil "Rook" (Smith) and Russell Eugene "Gene"Johnson. He graduated from Keytesville R-III High School with the Class of 1955. On March 30, 1958, Billy was united in marriage to Mary Elizabeth Howard in Salisbury, Missouri. Together they shared, in Billy's words,"the best 57 years of our lives" until Mary's passing in July 2014. They were blessed with four children: Benjamin "Benji," Bruce, Beth, and Brian. Billy owned and operated Bill & Bill's Phillips 66 Station in Keytesville. He also worked at the Ford Assembly Plant in Kansas City before retiring from Semco in Salisbury. Throughout the area, Billy was perhaps best known for his logging business, B.E.Johnson Logging, where he earned a reputation for being fair, honest, and respectful. Billy loved to weld, build, create, hunt, fish, cut timber, help others, and tackle just about any project. Above all else, his greatest love was his family. He is survived by his son, Brian Johnson of Keytesville; three brothers, Raymond "Butch" McKenzie (Tracy) of Keytesville, Larry McKenzie (Barbara) of Salisbury, and JesseMcKenzie (Julia) of Keytesville; two sisters, Peggy Howard of Pleasant Hill and Faye Cruse (Larry) of Salisbury; sister-in-law, Barbara Stump (Paul) of Polo; brother-in-law, Ronnie Fitzpatrick of Glasgow; five grandchildren,Jeremiah "Jake"Johnson of Slater, Kyle Johnson of Columbia, Josh Saulter of Texas, Justin Saulter of Washington, and Jordan Saulter of Washington; six great-grandchildren, Capt. Elizebeth Johnson of Fort Carson, Colorado, Mykah Parker (Tevin) of Slater, Jenna Hill of OakGrove, Ella Hill of Carrollton, Evan Johnson of Cairo, and Kyndle Johnson of Slater; and four great-great-grandchildren, Aspen GraceMoore, Keston Parker, Laken Parker, and Canyon Parker. Billy was preceded in death by his parents; his dad, Raymond "Mac" McKenzie; his beloved wife, Mary; his children, Benjamin "Benji"Johnson, Bruce Johnson, and Beth Ball; two sisters, Lois Fitzpatrick and Kay Lee; infant brother,Jerry Ray McKenzie; two sisters-in-law, Theresa McKenzie and Maxine Howard; five brothers-in-law, Charles, George, Marvin, Delmer, and Harold Howard; and one son-in-law, Mike Saulter.

Song here?

Message of Hope

At FBC it’s Vacation Bible School week. All week this week we have had our building filled with the sounds of children singing and playing, doing crafts, and most importantly, learning the most important thing anyone could ever learn: That Jesus Christ gave his life for our sin.

When we are young it’s hard to think about the day when our friends and family will be gathered to remember and celebrate our lives. But for everyone here, there will be a day when we will be laid to rest. We don’t know when that will be. There was a man in the Bible who met Jesus on the day when the man knew that he was going to die and face judgement.

Luke 23:39–43 ESV

39 One of the criminals who were hanged railed at him, saying, “Are you not the Christ? Save yourself and us!” 40 But the other rebuked him, saying, “Do you not fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation? 41 And we indeed justly, for we are receiving the due reward of our deeds; but this man has done nothing wrong.” 42 And he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” 43 And he said to him, “Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in paradise.”

Notice that when the man believed upon Jesus, Jesus response was that on that very day the man would be with him in paradise. Heaven is a paradise. It’s paradise because Jesus is there. God is among His people. I want you to also notice that this is relational God. It’s a God who will be WITH his people forever.

I. Someone you can really count on.

Billy had a reputation for being fair and honest. People respected him. In this world you can’t always trust people. People let you down. We let each other down as much as we don’t want to. God knows this. It’s because at our core we are born with a sin nature.

Romans 3:23 ESV

23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,

That means we are all, from birth going to lean toward the wrong choices. I told the kids today at VBS, if you don’t believe that, take two toddlers, put them in a room, toss one toy in and close the door. Someone is coming out crying. Our sin separates us from God. It breaks that relationship between humans and the Lord.

As I understand it, Billy was available to help out those who needed it in his life. Always ready for a project.

II. Help for those who need it.

God knew we couldn’t save ourselves from our sin nature. So He sent us the best help. Jesus, 100 percent God and 100 percent man, came to earth, born of a virgin, and lived among us. He did miracles that proved His authority and power. He taught us how to live but we fall short because of our sin. We were still separated from God. So Jesus lived a perfect life where He never sinned. And He had little brothers. That would be impossible for you and me.

2 Corinthians 5:21 ESV

21 For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

III. Billy loved his family.

God loves His family too. God loves God’s family and God loves Billy’s family too. Jesus gave his perfect life willingly on the cross atone for our sins. In doing so He was redeeming a people for God and when we place our trust in Jesus’ sufficienct death on the cross for salvation and that He rose from the dead three days later, scripture tells us we get adopted into the family of God. We become children of God. It’s amazing. And as His children we get to dwell with Him for all eternity after we pass on from this Earth.

That’s what John 3:16 is about. In a few weeks you’ll see it all over football stadiums. But I want you to hear it fresh here along with the verse that comes right after it.

John 3:16–17 ESV

16 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.

You see friends, even in death there is hope for life eternal for those who have trusted in Christ Jesus. And today can be the day that you place your trust in Jesus for all eternity. What better way to mark this day of mourning and memory, of celebration and family than to cement your own relationship with God so that you will be ready when your day of celebration and memory arrives and your loved ones are gathered much like this. The joy and hope and exuberance even beyond that of the kids at Bible School this week can be realized in your life by trusting in Christ Jesus.

Let’s Pray.