Florence Rice Johnson

an assisted living facility in Cedar Park, Texas.

Flo was born on September 9, 1929, in Akron Ohio, the youngest daughter of five

children born to JT “Dixie” and Marie Warner Rice. In 1937, when Flo was eight, the

Rice family moved to the then-sleepy town of Austin, Texas. All of their worldly

belongings topped the overflowing car.

Growing up, Flo’s feisty spirit emerged. Tomboy-style, she challenged neighborhood

boys to foot and swim races, and all things competitive. After graduating from Austin

High in 1947, she attended U.T., winning several swimming awards. After college, she

obtained a real estate broker’s license and joined the family business, Rice Real Estate.

She sold many just constructed homes in the newly developed Highland Hills and

surrounding neighborhoods, and helped relatives and friends find their dream homes.

In 1957, Flo married Robert Edward (Bobby) Bibb. They had two children, Becky and

Beth Ann. Flo married Bill Johnson in 1966, and had a third child, Keith. Flo and Bill

opened Parkcrest Cleaners, near Northland and Balcones Drive, in the spring of 1968.

Throughout the years, and much credit to Flo, the Cleaners has thrived, establishing a

reputation for being the best in town. On many occasions Parkcrest Cleaners would be

featured in the Austin American-Statesman columns by Ellie Rucker and Jane Greig as

the place to go for cleaning wedding dresses, family heirlooms and other specialty

items. The Cleaners continues to serve Highland Park West neighborhoods today.

Flo will be remembered for her generous spirit and larger-than-life personality. She

thoroughly enjoyed entertaining and loved any opportunity to host a party at her home.

Everyone looked forward to her annual Christmas party in hopes of seeing Santa Claus

and eating a cabbage roll or two. When the kids were growing up, Flo was involved and

liked being a surrogate mother to all of her kid’s friends, maintaining a revolving door of

friendship, food and fun. Her presence and support dominated major events of her kids

and their friends, participating in little league, high school football, and college activities.

Flo was dubbed “Best Little League Mom,” and served as President of the McCallum

High School Football Booster Club, supporting her son’s football team and a vital help in

building their new field house.

Flo loved to gamble, and couldn’t watch a sports game without a wager. She watched

lots of sports games in her time.

Flo was preceded in death by her first husband, Bobby Bibb, Bill W Johnson, two

grandsons, Randy Dorsett and Jake Johnson, and siblings MaeBelle Barton, Louise

Starkey, Ruth Philquist, and Tom Rice. Flo is survived by her three children:

Dr. Rebecca (Becky) Dorsett and husband, Kim, Beth Ann Johnson, Keith Johnson and

wife, Martha; grandchildren: Michelle Kalman, Christie Wright, Ryan Dorsett, Derek

Dorsett, Blake Dorsett, and Jenna Johnson, and numerous great-grandchildren, nieces,

and nephews.

On August 2, 2019, immediate family members will attend graveside services and

interment at Austin Memorial Park Cemetery. At 12:00 o’clock noon, extended family

and friends are invited to a reception to celebrate Flo’s life at the Zilker Botanical

Garden, GPS address: Barton Springs Road, 2220 Barton Springs Road, 78746.

Parking is available there, or at the overflow parking lot, GPS address: 2300 Stratford

Dr. Austin Texas, 78746.

For assistance call (512) 477-8672, ext 14.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association, alz.org;

Or to the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, afsp.org.

Flo’s immediate family sincerely appreciates friends and family members for their

generous contributions, continued love and support during this time. We are also very

grateful for cousins: Chris Hartye, Jeannie Philquist and Kathy Hobbs for their

tremendous help and organization.