Joe Lee Johnson, 75, died in a Chattanooga hospital on Thursday morning, after a battle with cancer.
He was of the Baptist faith.
He was the owner of Cleveland Speedway Inc., in Cleveland. He was the inaugural winner of the World 600, in Charlotte, N.C., in 1960, and held numerous other racing titles. He was a pioneer in the early days of NASCAR.
He was preceded in death by his first wife of 37 years, Jean Johnson; sister, Mildred Smith, and brothers, Arby, James, Olin Jr., Floyd and Loyd, and Hubert Johnson.
He is survived by his current wife, Gladys Johnson, of Cleveland; sons, David Johnson of Ooltewah, Ronnie Johnson and wife Pat, of Chattanooga, Kathy Harvey and husband Ed, of Signal Mtn., and Donna Burcham and husband Bobby, of Chattanooga; grandchildren, Chris Burcham, Lauren Harvey, Monica Harvey, Joanne Chappell and Mike Johnson; several great-grandchildren; one brother, Donald G. Johnson; sisters, Gladys Broyles, Dorothy York, Doris Downey,
Debbie Shackleford and Jeanette Hughes, all of Chattanooga.
Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. on Sunday at the East Chapel of Chattanooga Funeral Home with the Rev. Luther Eslinger officiating.
Interment will be in Lakewood Memory Gardens, East.
Pallbearers are Lance Johnson, Chris Burcham, Wayne "Tiny" Bass, Randall Hicks, Darrell Works and Tommy Hicks. Honorary pallbearers are Todd Morrow, Paul Tims, Bobby Doss, Nick Yancey, Dewayne Powell, Jerry Meadows, T.A. Hicks, Leonard Hilton and Gene Stinson.
The family will receive friends after 2 p.m. on Saturday at the East Chapel
of Chattanooga Funeral Home, Crematory and Florist, 404 South Moore Road.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Bradley County Humane Society.
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