Johnny Dale Busellato was born on January 29, 1953. He slipped peacefully into eternity and the arms of Jesus on March 6, 2023, surrounded by his loving family. Interment will be held at 9:30 a.m. Saturday, March 11, 2023 in the Shattuck Memorial Cemetery. Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, March 11, 2023, in the Woodward First Baptist Church with the Billings Funeral Home in charge of arrangements.

Johnny was born to James Albert and Alma Geneva (Pritchard) Busellato in McAlester, Oklahoma. He grew up in Shattuck, Oklahoma, and graduated from Shattuck High School in 1971. During his high school years, he was a star athlete in multiple sports and achieved the honor of Eagle Scout. He briefly attended college at NWOSU and SWOSU before enlisting in the United States Air Force. He proudly served his country for six years. During his time in the military he was stationed in Minot, North Dakota, Elmendorf, Alaska, and at Tinker Air Force Base in Midwest City, Oklahoma.

On August 11, 1979, he was united in marriage to Gayleen Shepherd. To this union two children were born. Anthony Dale was born on March 25, 1982. Brittney Lynn joined the family on September 17, 1986. Johnny's sole purpose, at this time in his life, was to honor, cherish, and take care of these three people. They were the light of his life.

In 1989, the sole purpose of Johnny's life changed. He met Jesus Christ and accepted him as his personal Lord and Savior. He lived his life as an example of Christ and would talk to anyone about Jesus. In seeking a cure for his cancer, he traveled to Mexico. While there, he would sit with the other patients and pray for and with them. In his last months, he became excited at the thought of being face to face with Jesus. He always was bold about his witness for Christ.

Johnny was very outgoing and outspoken. He never met a stranger. His family always knew if they went anywhere with him, they would be waiting while he finished his conversation with others. Nobody ever walked away from Johnny not knowing how he felt about the issues.

Johnny was generous to a fault. From making sandwiches for a neighbor boy who was going on a field trip and had no food in his house to hiring someone down on their luck to help clean a carpet, Johnny always wanted to make sure everyone was taken care of.

Through the years, Johnny worked for Panhandle Eastern Pipeline, UPS, and owned his own carpet cleaning business in Alva and Woodward. He was a dedicated worker throughout his professional life, but the highlight of his life was being Papa to his nine grandchildren. His greatest joy was when his grandkids asked, "Papa do you have any money for us to go to Family Dollar?" Trips to the park and McDonalds were a regular occurrence when the kids were visiting.

Johnny was preceded in death by his father and mother.

He is survived by his wife of 43 years, his son Anthony and fiancée Megan of Yuma, Arizona, and his daughter Brittney and her husband Kyle Bay of Stillwater, Oklahoma, nine grandchildren, Hannah, Lexi, Devryn, Brooklyn, Quinn, Channing, Roper, Rayder and Cody John. He is also survived by two brothers, Joe David of McAlester, and Jimmy and wife Nikki of Weatherford, and one sister, Donna and husband Jim Bailey of Clinton. He is also survived by his in-laws, Don and Bonnie Shepherd, who thought the world of him and believed he spoiled their daughter.

The family would like to thank Traditions Hospice for taking such good care of Johnny and his family in his last days. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the Gideons International of which Johnny was a faithful member. There will be a Gideon display at the funeral home and in the church vestibule. Other donations can be made to gideonsinternational.com.