Johnnie Marie Frizzell Crafts

It is with great sadness that we announce the death of Johnnie Marie Frizzell Crafts of Shreveport, Louisiana. She was born on December 7, 1931 in Starks, Louisiana to James Lafayette Frizzell and Myrtle Singleton Frizzell and died peacefully in her home on June 15, 2019. Visitation will be on Tuesday, June 18, 2019 from 6:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at Rose-Neath Funeral Home on Marshall Street in Shreveport, Louisiana. A funeral Mass will be held at 10:00 a.m. Wednesday, June 19, 2019 at St. Pius X Catholic Church in Shreveport. After graduating from Van Cove High School in Cove, Arkansas as the class of 1950's valedictorian, she was offered a partial academic scholarship, but instead chose to marry Joseph Crafts on June 3, 1950 at St. John Berchmans Catholic Church in Shreveport and begin their life together. They were a loving couple, and devoted to each other. She was a selflessly loving mother to their seven children. Through sharing her enjoyment of reading, she passed on her love of learning to each of them. She also enjoyed sketching and painting, although as her family grew, she focused her creativity into altering patterns and sewing, mostly for her children, always adding special touches to her creations. Johnnie was a devout Catholic convert. Along with her husband Joseph, she was a founding member of St Pius X Catholic Church. She sang in the choir, worked in the ladies guild and the altar society, acted as a eucharistic minister, and brought Communion to the homebound. She prayed regularly in front of the local abortion clinic. After her youngest child began school, Joseph taught Johnnie to play tennis. They became fixtures at Bossier Racquet and Swim Club. As a quick and enthusiastic learner, Johnnie began to excel. She was a member of the Bossier Racquet 2.5 team that won the 1987 USTA/Volvo Tennis League National Championship. She was also active in SALT, the Shreveport Association of Ladies Tennis. When she began to have grandchildren, she spent many hours babysitting and playing with them. She took care of the ill and aged members of her family, including her mother, whom she brought into her home in order to care for her more fully. As a lady of innate dignity, she was kind, gentle, and secretly hilarious. Her natural graciousness prompted her to treat people thoughtfully and with great kindness and tact. Her generosity extended beyond her immediate family in many small ways, such as the time she sewed school clothes for a young girl in need. She will continue to be loved and missed until we meet again. She was preceded in death by her husband, Joseph; her mother and father; her step-father, Hayes Frizzell; her half-brother, Levell Frizzell, and many aunts, uncles, and cousins. Johnnie leaves behind her children, Camille Doss and husband, Burns, Theresa Crafts, Norbert Crafts and wife, Debbie, Cynthia Crafts, Anita Crafts, Paul Crafts, and Carole Nessmith and husband, Wade; her grandchildren, Kristine Bailey and husband Tray, Jeffrey Doss, Sara Doss, Megan Craft and husband, Brad, Hunter Crafts, Lily Grace Crafts, Carrie Jordan and husband Michael, Nicholas Crafts and wife, Amy, Elizabeth Crafts, Christina Eleuterius, Alexander Eleuterius, Zachary Eleuterius, and Madeline Eleuterius; her great-grandchildren, Cadance Collins, Tatum Collins, Hudson Crafts, Barrett Craft, Cecelia Smith, Bailey Smith, Jamison Crafts, Grayson Crafts, and numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins. Honoring Johnnie as pallbearers include Burns Doss, Jeffrey Doss, Tray Bailey, Hunter Crafts, Nicholas Crafts, and Wade Nessmith, with Greg Crafts as an honorary pallbearer. Special thanks are due to her daughter, Anita Crafts, who cared for Johnnie during her long illness, and to Christus Schumpert Hospice, especially Denise and Valerie, who went above and beyond the call of duty for her. The family suggests memorials may be made to St. Pius X Catholic Church, 4300 N. Market, Shreveport, LA 71107, Mary's House Pregnancy Care Center, 906 Margaret Pl., Shreveport, LA 71101, or St. Jude's Children's Research Hospital, 262 Danny Thomas Pl., Memphis, TN 38105.