L.R. Book

L.R. "Johnny" Book, Jr., 89, of Hewitt, peacefully passed away in his sleep on January 25, 2016 at St. Catherine Center. Funeral Services will be 11 a.m., Thursday, January 28, at First United Methodist Church of Hewitt with Pastor Randy Scrivener officiating. Burial will follow at Oakwood Cemetery. Visitation will be 6 - 8 p.m., Wednesday, January 27, at Grace Gardens Funeral Home.

Johnny was born in Waco, Texas on April 10, 1926 to L.R. and Inez Book. He attended Waco schools and graduated from Waco High. After graduation, Johnny joined the U.S. Army, serving seven years and seeing action in the Pacific Theater during WWII. After returning home, he moved to Houston to become a geophysical engineer for the likes of Rogers Exploration and British Petroleum. His keen insight and meticulous attention to detail allowed him to travel all over the world collecting data for oil exploration. He spent many years in the jungles of Africa, India and South America doing what he loved. He would compute all of his data with a slide-rule and hand-written charts and graphs, well before computers and industry software. While in Houston, Johnny met and married Florence Carlson and she would be by his side during all of his adventures until her passing on November 7, 1991.

Mr. Book was preceded in death by his parents; and wife, "Flo" of Houston; and nephew, Michael Seith of Waco; and brother-in-law, Raymond Seith of Hewitt.

Survivors include his sister, Dorris Seith of Hewitt; nephew, Gary Seith and wife, Rene of McGregor; great-niece, Mellissa Rebrovich and husband, Jeffrey, of Eddy; great-nephew, Ryan Seith and wife, Marjorie, of Hewitt; two great-great-nieces, Shyanne Rebrovich of Eddy, and Tatum Seith of Hewitt; one great-great-nephew, Tyler Seith of Hewitt; and a very special friend Jane Haynes of Houston.

Pallbearers will be Ryan Seith, Jeffery Rebrovich, Cartson Fowler, Daniel Ochoa, Randy Scrivener and John Humphries.

Memorials may be made to First United Methodist Church of Hewitt. The family would like to express their thanks to the staff of St. Catherine Center, "Dr. J.", Wayne King , Rev. Randy Scrivener and Pat H..