Johnny Ripley Johnson Sr.
Our beloved dad, brother, uncle, grandfather, neighbor and friend, Johnny R. Johnson Sr. passed away in Tucson on Dec. 18, 2024, just one week after his 84th birthday. Johnny was born in Jackson, Ohio on Dec. 11, 1940, to his loving parents, Freda Mae and Homer Bryan Johnson; he was one of 10 children.
He is survived by his two sons, Johnny R. Johnson Jr. (Kerri) and Clarence Bryan Johnson (Pam); grandchildren, Kourtney Whipple (JW), Tilynn Martineau (Brian), Jacob Johnson (Chelsie), Tanner Johnson (Jenna), Wyatt Johnson (Cam), Morgan Ledgard (Anthony), Chandler Johnson and Zane Johnson; and great-grandchildren, BJ (Kalen) Martineau, Brooke Martineau, Waylon Martineau, Haidyn Johnson, Quade Whipple, Bridger Johnson, Cole Johnson, Laikyn Whipple, Weston Martineau, Chayce Johnson and Barrett Johnson.
Johnny grew up on a farm outside of Jackson, where he helped with all the family chores. He especially loved tractor work and maintenance on the tractors. He had a fascination with tractors even later in life. One of his favorite memories of growing up on the farm was at harvest time when friends and neighbors would gather for large harvest picnics.
After high school, Johnny served in the military. He was very proud of the time he spent serving his country and loved conversing with fellow veterans about his military experiences. He worked for Magma Copper Company, the Pinal County Sheriff’s Department, and lastly for the Mammoth-San Manuel School District. He really enjoyed working for the District; he had a knack for fixing things and enjoyed maintenance work.
Johnny was a loving and devoted father to his two sons Johnny and Bryan. He made sure he and his boys had fun and exciting adventures for their weekends, holidays and summer vacations together. Some of their favorite stomping grounds were Old Tucson, Tombstone, the Desert Museum, the circle races and as many trips out to the desert as possible.
Johnny was invited by his best friend (Bob Kaye) who he met in the Army to come to Arizona after being discharged from the military. So after going home to Ohio to visit his family, he drove his 1960 Ford to Arizona, driving the side of the desert mountains on the old one lane dirt road from Globe to Mammoth. He fell deeply in love with the desert and loved everything old west and cowboy. He made San Manuel his home and then later on moved to Mammoth, which he called home for the rest of his life. Johnny built the facilities for the Mammoth shooting range, where he also acted as range master, scheduled shooting events, maintenance guy and caretaker. He was very proud of his work there. He was also an amazing marksman.
He absolutely loved his humble residence in the desert, this was his little kingdom of all the things he loved. He also loved the people of Mammoth and surrounding communities. He had many friends and he helped many people that he didn’t even know, always handing out money or buying meals for people on a daily basis. Spending time with his family was at the top of his list, his boys and their families enjoyed many memorable adventures with him. Some of these adventures included cruising the desert in the Rhinos, watching the drag races and circle track races, outbowling everyone at the bowling alley and outshooting everyone at the shooting range. We will miss you, Grandpa Johnson.
Funeral Services will be held at the Mammoth Community Center on Jan. 18, 2025, at 11
a.m.