Obituary: Dorris Carlisle Johnson

Dorris Carlisle Johnson, 92, of Winter Garden, passed away Wednesday, Oct. 24, 2018.

Born in Vienna, Georgia, Dorris and her sister, Ruby Jean, moved with their parents, Eunice and John Thomas (“J.T.”) Carlisle, from Cordele, Georgia, to Winter Garden in 1933. 

Dorris attended Winter Garden Elementary School, and she graduated from Ocoee High School in the Class of 1943. She excelled in her studies, especially in literature and English, and she proudly never made a grammatical error of record. 

Dorris loved growing up in West Orange County when citrus was king and orange blossoms still wafted through the air, a time when she, with her alluring smile and dry wit, evoked comparisons to Marilyn Monroe.

Not long after World War II, Dorris met and married Wilbur Johnson, which began a storybook romance that would span six decades and ended upon his death in 2008. 

Dorris and Wilbur, who were unapologetically inseparable, were never ones to sit still — they were passionate about travel, collecting their ‘collectibles,’ bluegrass music festivals and friends. Always her own person, Dorris exuded grace and kindness to others, which was her way of showing she was a woman of quiet, dignified faith. 

She retired in the mid 1980s after a 40-year career with Florida Power Corporation.

Dorris is predeceased by her husband, Wilbur, and her parents. 

She is survived by her sister, Ruby Jean Vandergrift (George Henry “Frog”); her sisters-in-law, Helen Crittenden and Patricia Johnson; niece, Judy Nicholson; nephews, Earl Crittenden Jr. and Brian Crittenden; and great-nephew, Darren Crittenden; and great-niece, Devan Crittenden. 

A celebration of this lovely soul will be held at 11 a.m. Wednesday, Oct. 31, at Temple Free Will Baptist Church, 1208 E. Story Road, Winter Garden, Florida.

In lieu of flowers, donations to Cornerstone Hospice Foundation would be quite kind: 2445 Lane Park Road, Tavares, FL 32778; or by phone, (352) 742-6819. (beckerfamilyfuneral.com).