In Memory Of

Johnny Tollison VIEW PROFILE

Johnny Tollison

Johnny Dale Tollison

January 23, 1956 - June 21, 1975

The search for Johnny Tollison, 19, of 308 N. Christy, ended at about 8:50 a.m. today when his body surfaced at Lake McLellan.

Game wardens and others who had been searching for Tollison since about 6 p.m. Saturday when a skiiing incident resulted in his drowning, retrieved the body and it was taken to Carmichael-Whatley Funeral Directors.

Searchers had been hindered by bad weather and muddy water that contains much brush and weeds.

Divers called in to search for the body Sunday were unable to see anything below the surface.

"They couldn't even see a compass to follow a straight line," said Don Wilson, concessionaire at the lake. 

Tollison had been skiing Saturday with Ricky Lemons of 416 Texas and Patti Eickenhorst of 1505 Ripley. He climbed into the boat and removed his life jacket. The boat motor was started but did not function properly so Tollison reportedly jumped back into the lake to retrieve the skis.

Winds estimated at 40 miles per hour had hit the lake minutes earlier, according to Wilson, and the skis were blown away from Tollison at about the same rate he was swimming. He reportedly called back to the boat for help.

Lemons attempted to throw Tollison a life jacket, but again the wind caused problems and the jacket fell short. Lemons jumped into the lake and attempted to swim with the jacket to Tollison but he could not reach him in time and reportedly became so exhausted in the effort that he had to be pulled from the water by another boat that had reached the area.

The excitement and the wind causing the boat to drift resulted in witnesses being unable to furnish an accurate description of the location for searchers. Those looking for Tollison were able to work only briefly Saturday before high winds and rain interrupted their efforts.

Tollison was an employee of Cabot Corp. and a 1973 graduate of Pampa High School.

Services will be at 2:30 p.m. Wednesday at Carmichael-Whatley Colonial Chapel with the Rev. Harry Felkel, pastor of the First Christian Church at Little Rock, Ark. officiating. Burial will be in Fairview Cemetery. 

Mr. Tollison was born Jan. 23, 1956, in Pampa. He was married to Dianna Kay Boughan on Aug. 12, 1974 at Panhandle.

In addition to the widow, he is survived by his parents, Mr. and Mrs. F. E. Lamke, Pampa; three brothers, Staff Sgt. Lewis E. Tollison of Guam, Jessie E. Tollison of Pampa and Paul E. Tollison Jr. of Tacoma, Wash.; a sister, Mrs. Bill Lynch of Skellytown; three stepsisters, Mrs. Ray Nutter of Waynoka, Okla., Mrs. Jerry Fuller of Oklahoma City and Mrs. Janice Lamke of Watonga, Okla; three stepbrothers, Verland Lamke of Oklahoma City., Floyd Lamke of Watonga, and Walker Lamke of Waynoka.

http://hdl.handle.net/10605/329068 http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12255/172830





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