Laura Lee Johnson

Graveside services for Laura Lee Johnson, 76, West Plains, Missouri, will be held at 10:00 a.m., Tuesday, September 9, 2025, at Inman Cemetery, under the direction of Robertson-Drago Funeral Home. 

Mrs. Johnson passed away Wednesday, September 3, 2025, at Mercy Hospital, Springfield, Missouri.

She was born June 10, 1949, at West Plains, Missouri, to Roy Neal Coats and Anita Kathryn Carothers Coats.  Laura graduated from West Plains High School in 1967 and on June 10, 1968, she was married at West Plains, to Troy Lee Johnson.  Mrs. Johnson worked for her in-laws at Johnson General Store in Twin Bridges, Missouri, until it sold in 1972.  She and Troy bought a farm and raised cattle and feeder pigs while she worked in her family’s business, Coats Insurance and Tax Agency.  She later became a Certified Nursing Assistant and cared for many family and friends in their homes and in the nursing home.  She was employed with Riverways Support Services of Ozarks Medical Center for twenty-five years.  She then returned to Coats Tax Service and worked until her retirement in 2016.  Laura and Troy built a log cabin in Twin Bridges called Rivermist that they rented to many hunters and campers until they sold it in 2020.  They also built a shop behind their home for her hobby, a miniature pioneer village called Johnsonville.  She won trophies, ribbons, cash and other prizes at several miniature shows.  Mrs. Johnson was a member of the Heart and Stroke Club and American Legion.  She was of the Baptist faith with her membership at Willow Springs 2^nd Freewill Baptist Church.

She is survived by her husband, Troy Johnson; two sons, Jeremy Johnson and wife, Kelly, Nixa, Missouri and Michael Johnson and wife, Heather, Pomona, Missouri; five grandchildren, Max, Sam, Isabella and Jade Johnson and Madison McCrea; three brothers, Steve Coats, West Plains, Charles Coats and wife, Dianne, West Plains and John Coats and wife, Gina, Springfield, Missouri; one sister-in-law, Ann Loring; and many nieces and nephews. 

Her parents, one grandson, Luke McCrea and one brother-in-law, Doug Loring, preceded her in death.  

Visitation will be held from 6:00 until 8:00 p.m., Monday, at Langston Street Chapel.