May 10, 1943 - November 5, 2021

CONNIE SWEARINGEN

Connie RaVaye Johnston, 78, has changed her address to Heaven.  Connie passed away on Novenber 5, 2021 in her home in Pecan Estates, Angleton, Texas, after battling Parkinson's for three years.  Her final day was shared with family, all her children and beloved husband.  She passed in peace, surrounded with love and her family.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           Connie leaves behind her husband and dance partner, Charles Wyley Johnston; also survived by her sister, Sharon Bess; her son, Rob Tyler Martin; daughter, Wendi RaVaye Martin; stepsons Charles Robert Johnston, Dan Owen Johnston, and stepdaughter Jan Marie Florence, nine grandchildren, and 18 great-grandchildren. 

Born in Bloominston, Illinois, May 10, 1943, Connie was the daughter of James A. and Mildred L. Swearingen of Bloomington, Illinois.  She completed high school and lived in Bloomington until she moved to Kansas City, Missouri to attend school to be a flight attendant.  There Connie met and married Thomas Martin in 1962, after he proposed at the Marine Corps Ball.  They were blessed with two children Rob and Wendi.  Connie;s new life as a wife and mother took her to a number of cities over the years, from Corpus Christi to Minneapolis and other parts of the US.  She made immediate friends and a home for her family every place she found herself.

In 1982, she found her way to The Woodlands where she lived for 8  years while she finished raising her children who left for college and to start their own lives. She was happily enjoying her upscale lifestyle - appreciating her life of tennis, close circle of friends when friends set her up on a blind date with a man from Angleton, Texas.  Charlie, an avid and respected outdoors man, hunter and fisherman, and bachelor of 10 years might not initially have been an obvious match for Connie given that she didn't own a pair of boots nor had even set foot on a hunting lease.  They made an ideal couple because of their shared values and zest for life, true commitment and love of family.  Charles proposed to Connie and they were married at their home in Angleton, joined by their children and grandchildren.  Their marriage of 31 years was one of love and closeness rarely found and admired by many.  Charlie, the love of Connie's life was her closest confidant, a strength and protective love and support that gave Connie the security and care needed to make it through all of life's ups and downs.  They shared love, adventures, laughs, romance, tenderness - more than can ever be hoped for. Connie often shared how she couldn't have wanted or needed anything more than her life with Charlie and their family.

Connie spent the next 31 years as a loving wife and mother.  Her greatest joy of filling their home with family where her food was prepared to nourish all, plenty of games and ropeswings in the backyard to entertain and guitar, singing, and stories shared.  They shared a love of dancing, spending many evenings at The Amadillo, where Charlie taught Connie how to two-step, polka and waltz.  Connie learned her way around a deer lease and spruced up the hunting and fishing trailers with curtains and a woman's touch.

Connie was widely thought of and cherished as a wife, mother, friend and neighbor who was there for support, confidential and loving, yet frank advice and assistance.  She was relied upon to get others through some of their toughest times, whether as a compassionate listener,  cheerleader, medical advocate, to execute a will or care for others as a hospice and Alzheimer;s volunteer.  Connie's life was selfless service to others.  This lifetime of caring for others took a turn in Connie's last years of life, as Parkinson's limited her independence, and she came to need the help of others .  Never a moment was spent on a complaint, sadness or bitterness for the difficulty that she now encountered but instead she showed courage, strength and thanked everyone who assisted her.  The tribe of care-giving angels that cared for her until the end allowed Connie to be at home, playing games she loved, receiving plenty of kisses from Charlie ane family.  A very special bond and relationship was shared by Connie and Kim Diaz, her first caregiver who remained with her throughout her illness as they learned, laughed and managed the struggles through the end.

Family and friends are invited to attend a memorial service to be held on November 11, 2021, 2:00 pm at Covenant Evangelical Presbyterian Church, 102 Yaupon St, Lake Jackson, Texas, 7566