James Noble Johnson, 64, died November 26, 2011 in Austin, TX. "Jim" was born January 30, 1947 in Orange, Texas, the second son of Berniece McCarroll Johnson and Richard Benjamin Johnson. Beloved by his family, respected by his professional colleagues and enjoyed by his friends for his wise counsel and humor, Jim had a lifelong love of baseball, music, travel, reformed theology, and college football.
After graduation from Stark HS in Orange TX in 1965, Jim attended Austin College in Sherman TX (B.A., 1969) where he played baseball and was a percussionist with both the college band and Sherman Symphony. He earned two degrees from the University of Houston (M.A., Political Science, 1971; J.D. 1974) and was admitted to the Texas Bar in 1974. Commissioned a Second Lt. in the U.S. Army in 1971, he was honorably discharged at the rank of Captain in 1974.

Jim began his legal career as a Staff Attorney for the National District Attorney's Association, in Chicago and Washington D.C. In 1977 he served a year as Smith County Administrative Assistant District Attorney before opening his private practice in Tyler, Texas. In 1983, Jim graduated among the first class of attorneys to become certified in both Residential and Commercial Real Estate Law. Moving to Austin in 1989, Jim was the Supervising Attorney of the Real Estate and Eminent Domain Sections of the City of Austin Legal Department. In 1994 he entered private practice specializing in commercial real estate litigation. He was a member of the Johnson-Rial-Parker Law Firm at the time of his death.
Jim was known statewide for his expertise in the areas of surveying, land titles, and boundary line conflicts. In 1994, Governor Ann Richards appointed Jim to the Texas Board of Professional Land Surveying. In 1996, Governor George Bush concurred with Governor Richards (a rare event, indeed) and named Jim Chairman of that Board. Jim was often sought as an expert witness in real estate cases. A popular speaker, Jim was well-known for his continuing legal education seminars for fellow attorneys and for professional surveyors and engineers. He served on the Council of the Real Estate, Probate, and Trust Law Section of the State Bar of Texas from 1989 through 1993, and was awarded the Distinguished Real Estate Lawyer Lifetime Achievement Award in 2010.
A prolific writer, Jim co-authored the Texas Practice Guide, edited the four-volume reference, Texas Real Estate Transactions, and created the Professional Ethics Course for the Texas Society of Professional Surveyors.
Jim was first ordained as an Elder in the Presbyterian Church in the Chicago area. Jim also served on sessions at First Presbyterian in Tyler; Covenant and Westlake Hills Presbyterian Churches in Austin. An avid student of Scottish history and the Reformed Tradition, Jim's knowledge of theology and church polity made him a popular teacher for youth and adults. An energetic commissioner to Grace and Mission Presbyteries, he had a keen interest in the recently organized Fellowship of Presbyterians.
Jim loved his family and is survived by his wife Edith Jennings Black Johnson of Austin and Kerrville; his daughter Margaret Peebles, her husband, the Rev. Jack Peebles, grandchildren, Annabelle and David Peebles of Yakima, Washington; his mother of Denver; brothers: Dr. Richard B. Johnson, Jr. and wife Meg Scott Johnson of Kerrville; and the Rev. Dr. Philip M. Johnson and wife Lynn Davis Johnson of Denver; several nieces and nephews and a great-nephew.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Salvation Army; Fuller Theological Seminary - Houston Extension 11757 Katy Freeway, Suite 1300, Houston, TX 77079; or to the Kerr County Christian Women's Job Corps, 1140 Broadway, Kerrville, TX 78028.
A Memorial Service will be at 2 p.m. on Monday, December 5, 2011 at Westlake Hills Presbyterian Church, 7127 Bee Caves Road, Austin, TX with reception to follow.
The Committal Service will be at 2 p.m. Tuesday, December 6 at the Columbarium of First Presbyterian Church Kerrville, Texas, 800 Jefferson Street.