Bert "Bradley" Johnson

On January 9th, 2023, Bert “Bradley” Johnson passed away peacefully at home surrounded by his family. Brad was a long-time resident of Hot Springs, graduating from Hot Springs High School in 1948. He met his wife of 65 years, Patrica, while at school. They spent their lives together loving their family, being active in their church, selling gas and feed at their grocery store, and spending evenings with their friends and family in a heated game of cards.

Bradley loved to spend time in his garden. His green thumb was legendary, and he could often be found sitting on his bucket picking okra, green beans, and zucchini to share with his friends. Brad and Pat worked side by side, with their children in tow, pumping gas and selling feed to the residents of Mountain Pine, Arkansas at their grocery store, Bradley’s Grocery. Bradley’s was a staple of Mountain Pine life and he kept many families afloat during hard times. After finally selling the grocery store, Brad worked for the Post Office delivering mail until his retirement. In his younger years, Brad and his best friend, John Hall, loved fishing, frog gigging, and camping.

He loved to travel. Brad and Pat spent their golden years taking their grandchildren on trips and visiting their friends. He loved to read Western novels. If he was quiet, you could often find him in his blue chair with a book and his dog, Clarabelle. Brad could fix almost anything. If you needed a single screw that matched something from ancient times, he was sure to have one in the shop that was his pride. When he was tinkering, he whistled a song that only he knew so much it became the family joke that no one could replicate it. Brad had a sharp wit and was always quick to laugh. He loved a joke and often told terrible ones that embarrassed his wife.

Whenever there was down time, Brad loved to play cards and there was always a hand of Hands and Feet or Liverpool Rummy with friends around the kitchen table. Brad loved deeply, laughed often, and took care of his family.

Brad was proceeded in death by his wife, Patrica Jean Pool Johnson. Also his parents, Andrew and Ada Johnson and his three siblings; his sister, Rosalind Wilson; his sister, Maudine Waller and her husband, Frek; and his brother, A.L. Johnson and his wife, Pauline.

Brad is survived by his three children; a daughter, Pam Rains, and her son Elijah Rains; a son, Danny Johnson and his wife, Deb, and a daughter Cyndi Hankins and her husband, Steve and their children, Angi Lesher, Sam Hankins, and Zac Hankins and his wife, Bionca. He also leaves behind his great grandchildren; Ford and Wyatt Hankins, and Maebry, Audrey, Roland, and Tegan Liesman and a host of nephews, nieces, and extended family.

His family would like to extend a special thanks Arkansas Hospice and Gentiva Hospice, specifically Cheryl Murphy, Crystal Elisea, Johnie Mae Cheatham, Chaplin Teddy, Andrew Barron, Maria Vidal, Donna Taylor, and his special caregiver and great-niece, Adrienne Noles. Thank you for your deep kindness and unwavering support. 

A Celebration of Bradley’s life will be 2:00 pm Tuesday, January 17, 2023 at Smith Family Funeral Home Hot Springs Chapel with Pastor Teddy Frye officiating.