Noal Edward “Sonny” Johnson

Noal Edward Johnson was born at Henderson, Texas, on November 2, 1933, the son of George P. and Esta Estell Johnson. After high school he became a mechanical and design engineer, working for many years with the Basch-Ross Tool Company before starting his own machine shop to manufacture specialty products. He married Willie Sue Graham, and they had three children: Karen Sue, Wanda Elaine and Linda Earline. A member of Melrose Baptist Church, he enjoyed shooting and photography.

He received his degrees in Gray Lodge in 1955: the Entered Apprentice on February 21, the Fellowcraft on March 23, and the Master Mason degree on April 27. Appointed Senior Steward for 1958–1959, he served as Junior Deacon, Junior Warden and Senior Warden, and at 28 he was installed as the 91st Master at a public installation on June 29, 1962, by Past Master Melvin E. Prescott, aided by Past Master George W. Evans. Fred S. Kramer of Concordia Lodge No. 952 in Pretoria, South Africa, gave the address.

His was a year of hard questions. The lodge approved the petition to form Lorenzo de Zavala Lodge and adopted a simpler way of conducting Masonic funerals, opening a Lodge of Sorrow for the whole year so the brethren could go straight to the funeral home or graveside. In November the Secretary warned that deaths and dimits were outpacing new degree work and appealed for new spirit. The lodge mourned Senior Warden Oscar Earnest Lang, a World War I veteran, who died January 28, 1963, and it approved the widow of John Beard Holcomb for the Home for Aged Masons.

The Worshipful Master and the Secretary, driving home from the Grand Lodge in December 1962, agreed that the lodge could not finance a new building without more income. Brother Johnson joined the Building and Finance Committees in proposing that annual dues be raised to $15. After a spirited debate on May 1, 1963, a moment when the future of Gray Lodge hung in the balance, the resolution passed 48 to 22. At the Annual Reunion and Awards Day, Fifty-Year Awards went to L. W. Falk and W. W. Toole and nineteen members received 25-Year Awards; Fathers, Sons and Grandsons were honored on June 5; B. F. Arnim received a life membership for his work on the Funeral Committee; and the Humphrey Benevolent Fund reached $10,000.

Brother Johnson was a charter member of Mount Houston Lodge No. 1359, chartered December 9, 1955, and held dual membership there. He was a member of Mount Houston Chapter No. 483, Royal Arch Masons, an officer of Melrose Commandery No. 109, Knights Templar, and a Past Patron of Melrose Chapter No. 920, Order of the Eastern Star.