Thomas Earl "Pete" Johnston, 88, a resident of Smithdale, passed away on March 11, 2026 at his residence.

A visitation will be held Saturday, March 14, 2026 at Hartman Jones Funeral Home from 12 PM until services at 2 PM. Burial will be at Adams Methodist Church Cemetery. His nephew, John Newman, will officiate. Hartman Jones Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

Pete was born on June 16, 1937 to the late Henry Rawls Johnston and Luessie Carraway Johnston. He graduated from Mars Hill High School in 1956. He was a member of Adams United Methodist Church. He received a basketball scholarship at Southwest Junior College. Pete worked at Shell Oil Company for over 12 years, but came home to cattle and poultry farm. He enjoyed working on his land, especially tending to the rose garden with his wife, Mary. He was an avid coon hunter, Ole Miss Football fan and loved sitting on his porch watching the birds, but what he enjoyed above all else was spending time with his family.

He is preceded in death by his parents; his mother and father-in-law Homer and Helen Pope; six siblings Louise Brumfield (Gene), Mattie Lee Newman (Hilton), Betty Sue Smith, Nevelyn Allred (Purvis), Harold Johnston (Anna), and Clayton Johnston; one sister-in-law Opal Johnston; one brother-in-law C.M. Hux; one niece Susan Smith; and three nephews Harry Brumfield, Stephen Johnston, and Thomas Brent Johnston.

He is survived by wife of 65 loving years, Mary Pope Johnston; his three daughters Donna Smith (Dean), Carolynn Smith (Mike), and Deena Johnston; seven grandchildren Tyler Smith (Nikki), Ashton Thornton (Mitchell), Austin Smith (Victoria), Peyton Smith, Sam Smith, Kelsey Strahan (Josh), and Mary Claire Freeman; seven great-grandchildren Jaxon Montague, Hagen Smith, Lawson Smith, Charlotte Smith, Tucker Thornton, Archer Thornton, Miller Thornton, and one on the way Kinley Strahan; three brothers Robert Johnston, Guy Johnston, and Douglas Johnston; two sisters Etta Merle Hux and Lexine Deer (Jimmy); brother-in-law Joe David Pope (Nancy); sister-in-law Tot Johnston; along with numerous nieces, nephews, other relatives, and friends.

Pallbearers will be his grandsons Tyler, Austin, Peyton, Sam, Mitchell, Josh, and Jaxon. Honorary Pallbearers will be his nephews Roger Brumfield, James Newman, John Newman, Joe Newman, Kyle Hux, Howard Allred, Johnny Allred, Jeff Deer, Larry Smith, Mike Johnston, Ronnie Johnston, Dr. Clay Johnston, and Ricky Johnston.

The family would like to give special thanks to Bristol Hospice for their compassionate care.