Service Fit For A Lawman: Pawnee Co. Undersheriff Monty Johnson Laid To Rest

Pawnee County Undersheriff Monty Johnson was laid to rest Thursday. It was a service fit for a lawman - that everyone loved.<br/><br/>

Thursday, February 28th 2019, 2:32 pm



Hundreds gathered to remember the life of a longtime Pawnee County public servant Thursday.  Pawnee County Undersheriff Monty Johnson died in a crash while on duty last week.

Troopers say a truck crossed the center line and hit Johnson's patrol car head-on.

I had the opportunity to sit down with Monty's wife this week - and like her husband out on scenes, she didn't want to talk on camera. But she did tell me Monty truly loved his job and even at 63, he had no plans of retiring.

Undersheriff Johnson spent almost 15 years serving Pawnee County, first as a deputy then as undersheriff. Law enforcement officers from across Oklahoma - even some from Texas and Arkansas - were at the funeral to honor Monty.

It was a service fit for a lawman - that everyone loved.

Pastor Justin White, Terlton First Baptist Church, said working for the sheriff's office was Monty's calling. 

"Monty always had a smile on his face," Pastor White said. "Monty's one of those guys that it just seems like you always knew him."

Monty Johnson had a special way about him - unforgettable is the best way to say it.

Related Story: Vigil Held For Pawnee County Undersheriff Monty Johnson 

"That crooked grin with some chaw in his mouth - that was Monty, you know," said Pastor Justin White.

He had a heart for people, and that's why Sheriff Mike Waters appointed Monty undersheriff.

"He'd take people to jail, and they would thank him," Sheriff Waters said at the service.

That's because in his nearly 15 years with the Sheriff's Office, Monty led by faith.

"I don't want to sit here and say he preached to him because, no - he didn't actually preach, but he tried to steer them in the right path," the sheriff said.

His pastor said Monty took his faith seriously and went to at least three church services each week.

“I know that he dealt with some awful things here, but he treated everybody with respect and kindness and I think that was a result of his faith,” said Pastor Justin White.

When not in uniform, Monty was a cowboy. A history buff. A Mason. 

And a husband, dad and papa. Monty loved his family.

His wife told me the two met at an old boot-scooting club - they'd been together for close to 20 years. She said the grandkids had him wrapped around their finger.

"He loved on those kids, and somebody else would discipline them - his job was to be grandpa," said Pastor Justin White.

But White said Monty's main purpose was to serve the Lord.

So as his final call went out, there's peace. There's peace, the pastor said, that the community's loss is Monty's gain.

"I know where he's at," White said.

"And Monty's OK. One day, we'll be up there with him."

Undersheriff Monty Johnson grew up and lived in Terlton all his life. The sheriff joked, if there were 16,000 people in the county, Monty was related to 15,000.

And he knew the other thousand because he never met a stranger.

 

 

 

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