Clarita, Oklahoma Margrett Johnston Honored with a DHS Award of Excellence and Best of the Best Award

OKLAHOMA CITY -- In 2004, Big Five Adult Agency Companion Margrett Johnston says she knew immediately upon meeting Pat, a man with developmental disabilities, he was going to be another member of her close-knit family. They’ve live happily together in the small Amish community of Clarita, Okla., ever since.

“When they brought Pat to meet me, I instantly said, ‘I want him,’ and that was a done deal,” Johnston said. “I have two boys and Pat is just right at home with them and my grandkids. I’ve got a great-granddaughter who sits on the arm of the chair and plays on the iPad with him, so he’s just one of us.”

Oklahoma DHS’ Courtney Rhodes, a case manager in Madill, is a longtime admirer of Johnston’s. She said Johnston and Pat go together “like peas and carrots” and that one of many reasons she nominated the adult agency companion for several honors. Johnson was subsequently recognized with an “Award of Excellence’ and “Best of the Best” award in direct support services during the recent 29th Annual Governor’s Conference on Developmental Disabilities in Norman.

“Margrett’s just about the most caring, genuine and honest person I think that I’ve ever met,” Rhodes said. “She’s always happy, her home is always clean and presentable and she’s taken in Pat with open arms. They’re like best friends and are there to support each other.

“Whenever I go over for home visits, they each have their own rocker. They’re both just chill and relax. Their personalities just match perfectly and I couldn’t pick a better agency companion for a consumer.”

Rhodes said that Pat didn’t know how to use silverware and had trouble drinking from a cup when he first came to live with Johnston, but has made incredible progress in a number of areas ever since.

“Pay now feeds himself and doesn’t really need much assistance,” Rhodes said. “He didn’t know how to do chores before, but now he assists by taking care of the dog and taking out the trash. He enjoys helping out and anything that Margrett asks him to do, he’s just happy to do it.”

Johnston said the most rewarding part of her job is when Pat becomes proficient in performing a task.

“The most rewarding thing to me in my job with Pat is when he learns to do something new,” she said. “Many people think that because Pat is nonverbal that he can’t tell you what he wants, but he definitely can.”

Wherever Johnston goes, Pat comes along. They attend church twice a week, enjoy going out to eat and spend time with friends and relatives. Pat also likes to go on family vacations. Johnston said that ever since her husband passed away last year, Pat has been a true comfort to her and keeps her motivated each day.

"Well, I stop and think if I didn’t have him, what would I do?” she said. “Pat keeps me motivated and he likes to go. He’s just mine.”

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