Helen “Johnnie” Huckins

Helen “Johnnie” Johnson Huckins, 93 years young, of Beaumont, died December 19, 2018, after an extended illness.

Helen was born to Gussie “Gip” Johnson and Minnie Lucille Saunders Johnson, November 7, 1925, at home in Walnut Springs, Texas. Nicknamed “Tootie” the youngest of three daughters (Doris, Evelyn, and Helen), the family moved to McGregor, Oglesby, and settled in Gatesville, Texas. Her happy childhood included swimming, riding horses, and playing tennis with long loved friend, Mildred.

During Helen’s senior year (1938-1939) she worked typing deed records for attorney, Robert Brown. Excelling in sports and academics following high school graduation, Helen worked at North Fort Hood PX. She quickly was hired by DuPont Company, whose priority for all applications was to move to Hanford, Washington. The “secret war project” was the atomic bomb of the Manhattan Project. Helen worked in the Traffic Department in charge of correspondence in and out of the facility and was assigned a room in the single ladies’ barracks. Her office contained staff from sixteen different states. Her boss nicknamed her “Johnnie” and the nickname endured. The military reservation had eight mess halls feeding a thousand people at a time along with grocery stores, a skating rink, bowling alleys, beauty shops, and a riding academy. After the war ended in 1945, Helen worked for DuPont in St. Paul, Minnesota, at a smokeless powder plant. She was transferred to the DuPont Plant at Orange, Texas, where she met and married, George James Huckins, Sr., on February 19, 1949. Johnnie worked as a secretary for TeVault, Thompson, and Kelly Architects and later retired from Harry Gallousky Consulting Engineers in 1985.

A faithful, longtime member of the Fidelis Ladies Sunday School Class of Wesley United Methodist Church, Johnnie served on numerous committees and boards. She also enjoyed bowling and playing bridge with friends. George and Johnnie enjoyed traveling to Alaska, Hawaii, Europe, Russia, and Australia during their fifty-nine years of marriage.

Johnnie is survived by her daughter, Kay Goad and her husband, Mark, of Lumberton; sons, George “Jim” Huckins, Jr. of San Antonio and Tracy Huckins of Houston; granddaughters, Nicki Goad of Beaumont and Brooke Goad Martinez and her husband, Trey, of Lumberton; great-grandchildren, Rylee Paige and Ryker Peyton Martinez, both of Lumberton.

A gathering of Mrs. Huckins’ family and friends will begin at 10:00 a.m., with her funeral service to follow at 11:00 a.m., Monday, December 24, 2018, at Broussard’s, 1605 North Major Drive, Beaumont. Interment will follow at Forest Lawn Memorial Park, Beaumont.

The family would like to express appreciation to the staff of Total Home Health and Kindred Hospice for their care and concern.

Memorial contributions may be made to Wesley United Methodist Church, 3810 North Major Drive, Beaumont, Texas 77713.