January 25, 1956 – February 24, 2024
WICHITA FALLS – Anne Renee Rohrbaugh Johnston, 68, passed away peacefully and went to be with the Lord Feb. 24, 2024 in Wichita Falls.
A visitation was from 5:30 – 6:30 p.m. Feb. 27 from at Jerry Woods Funeral Home Chapel in Nocona. A funeral service will be at 1 p.m. Feb. 28 at Jerry Woods Funeral Home Chapel officiated by Vernon Johnston and Grant Gikas. Interment will follow in Starkey Cemetery in Montague County. Pallbearers will be Bill Holcomb, Dan Fenoglio, Bryan Booth, Bill Crowe, Terry Newland and Duane Robertson.
She was born Jan. 25, 1956 in Wichita Falls to William “Willie” Rohrbaugh and Marie Hasty Rohrbaugh. She graduated from Wichita Falls Old High as a coyote in 1972 at the age of 16. Renee packed her belongings in her 1970 Buick Skylark GS and set out to Lubbock to attend Texas Tech University and begin her life adventure. She would major in nutritional science with a minor in interior design to begin her college experience.
She attended Texas Tech for two years and ultimately applied to the University of Texas at Austin to continue her educational goals. She would graduate from UT Austin in 1982 with a bachelor of science degree in nutritional science. At UT she was a member of the Kappa Omicron Nu Honor Society and also a member of the honors society Phi Kappa Alpha earned by invitation only with scholastic excellence.
In later years she would attend Texas Women’s University in Denton in a program to obtain her master’s degree in nutritional science and continue that education with an internship as a clinical dietician at Arlington Memorial Hospital in Arlington. She would complete her endeavors with a residency at Wilson N. Jones in Sherman to become Anne Renee Johnston MS,RD,LD, a registered dietician with a master’s degree licensed by the state of Texas.
While working at the hospital in Sherman she would be hired as a consulting dietician at St. Richards Villa in Muenster, as well as Horizon Manor, Nocona Nursing Home and Nocona General Hospital in Nocona. Then later at Nocona General Hospital she would serve as their dietary consultant for more than 20 years. Renee would later additionally be employed by Muenster Memorial Hospital and Electra Memorial Hospital in this same dietary consultant capacity.
Renee met her future best friend and later husband, Vernon Johnston, in the fall of 1977 in Austin. They eventually tied the knot and married on Nov. 12, 1979.
Interwoven with years of her educational journey, she experienced other areas of interest and achievements. She and her family would relocate to the Nocona area and purchase a house with a small tract of land in the Bonita community. She would temporarily be employed as a substitute teacher and teacher’s aide at Nococna Independent School District as well as installing wallpaper. Also, she assisted her husband Vernon in starting a small carpentry business.
But with the oil industry slow down of the early 1980’s, Renee showed her businesswoman entrepreneur talents by creating a craft business, Bar A Country Creations, designing small woodworking country craft projects that she and her husband would produce and market at craft shows throughout North Texas to great success. This endeavor began the eventual custom home and remodeling business, Bar A. Creations, Inc.
As Vernon would work in the field doing the carpentry work, Renee would again be consulting with customers in various areas of interior designs for their homes. She would help them select all their fixtures, help with paint color coordination and all interior aspects, especially the arrangements of kitchen areas for greater ease in meal preparation. Her behind the scenes work would prove essential for the success of their building business. Additionally, the bookkeeping expertise would fall in her hands for that same success.
Country life suited this professional and country girl to a tee as she was a pure naturalist. She had a large organic vegetable garden, herb garden and beautiful flower beds to extend her creative visions. Also included was more than 20 rose bushes or climbing roses and various fruit trees to number at least 10 or more at any time.
Her love of the outdoors and God’s nature was enjoyed at every opportunity. Of course, you can’t live in the county without special friends as her love of pets and animals was always present. Her puppy dogs where a joy in her life as were the cats. Her horse Doc Henry Jay was a special addition to this facet of her life.
Renee and Vernon also would continue purchasing land and created a cattle herd to their satisfaction. Renee would choose the heifers and cows to breed and leave the bull selection to Vernon. He continually would go look at and purchase bulls from a good friend, Larry Fenoglio. Renee loved to be on a tractor mowing and her husband had to purchase a second tractor just to be able to have one available to do the farm work he needed to do.
Renee had a passion for life which included her love of the creative arts. Literature and a good book were always relaxing for her. Cooking was a fun endeavor, whether just supper every night or a fantastic meal, not just for the holidays, that she could prepare for her family and friends. She loved traveling that included museums with fine arts as painting, sculpture or fine wine. She was a foodie so her travels always included the best restaurants with notable chefs, if possible, preparing the meals.
Music was an essential in not only going to hear good music but enjoying it in her home. Renee passed from this life with no regrets for she lived life to the fullest and took advantage of what the Lord had offered to the greatest degree.
She was preceded in death by her parents and loving sister, Sandy K. Odom.
She is survived by her best friend and husband of 46 years, Vernon Johnston; son, Shaun Jeremy Johnston and wife Dondi; two grand boys, Dylan Patrick Johnston and Aidan Alexander Johnston with special friend Daisy Jarvis; special sister-in-law, Norma Feuerborn and husband Charlie; nieces and nephews, cousins and a multitude of wonderful loving friends during her journey of life.
Memorial donations may be made to St. Jude’s Children Cancer Research, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105 or Hospice of Wichita Falls, 4909 Johnson Rd, Wichita Falls, TX 76310.
Arrangements entrusted to Jerry Woods Funeral Home in Nocona.

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