Cecilia Johnson

Cecilia Nicolina Fratelli was one of 12 children born to Luigi “Louis” and Maria Virginia (La Croce) Fratelli in Shamokin, Pennsylvania on July 20, 1931.  She attended St. Edwards High School where she graduated in 1950.  Soon after graduating, she moved to College Station, TX to live with her sister Barbara and worked as a dental assistant.

She met the love of her life, Lt. Ernest “Ernie” Johnson, in the summer of 1952 at the Post Office on the campus of Texas A&M University.  They were married the following spring on April 23, 1953 at the Chapel at Fort Polk in Leesville, Louisiana. 

After he returned from deployment in Korea, Ernie and Celie lived in Dublin, GA; Stephenville, TX; and Dublin, TX before moving to Midland in 1961 when Ernie was hired as a baseball and football coach at LHS. 

Ernie and Celie had three children: Susan, Karen, and Lee.  As a mom, she was the strength of our family and had enormous energy to care for, protect, and teach.  As a wife, she faithfully supported Ernie and his teams and was a fixture at LHS baseball and football games.  As a grandmother and great-grandmother she was all about playing games, baking sweets and having fun.  As a friend, she was faithful and always up for an adventure.  She especially cherished her Vegas trips with Pat Blackwell and the late Marcie Christensen where the trio laughed and often looted the slots.

She had a natural curiosity to learn new things and had no fear of jumping into jobs, projects, or new hobbies.  If she needed to learn something to help her family or friends, she just picked it up and figured it out.  Her seemingly endless talents earned her a super woman stature, and many of us will forever use “how Mimi did it” (whatever “it” was) as our standard of measure. 

Cecilia was preceded in death by her parents, brothers Edward, Louis, and Joseph; and sisters Elinor, Barbara, Louise, and Elizabeth.

She is survived by her husband of 68 years, Ernie, and their children Susan Weaver (Jim) of Wichita Falls, TX, Karen Dunn of Arlington, TX and Lee Johnson of Artesia, NM.  Her grandchildren Alex Hale and wife, Heather of Midland, TX, Nick Holmes and wife, Lindsay of Austin, TX, Jake Weaver and wife Kristi of Wichita Falls, TX, PJ Dunn and wife Esther of Arlington, TX, Chandler Johnson and wife Clarissa of Irving, TX. Great grandchildren; Olivia and Alexis Hale, Brexton and Marinley Holmes and Dustin and Collin Weaver.  She is also survived by her brother Gerry Fratelli of Coal Township, PA; sisters Rita Rohrer of Lancaster, PA and Catherine Brady of Allentown, PA.

 The family would like to thank Home Care Assistance and their care givers, Kendall, Gloria, Lupe, Ginger, Zena, Dawn, and Jeanna for their loving care. We would also like to thank Hospice of Midland.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Hospice of Midland.

A Funeral Mass will be held at 10:00 a.m. Monday, May 17, 2021 at St. Stephen’s Catholic Church with interment following at Fairview Cemetery.  Pallbearers will be Alex Hale, Nick Holmes, Jake Weaver, PJ Dunn, and Chandler Johnson.

 Arrangements are under the direction of Nalley-Pickle & Welch Funeral Home & Crematory of Midland. Online condolences may be made at www.npwelch.com.