Dr. Phillip Johnson

Our beloved husband, father, son, brother, grandfather, and friend, Phillip Johnson passed away peacefully at home, Wednesday, May 12, 2010, after fighting a valiant battle with cancer. Waco services will be 2 p.m. Saturday, May 15, at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Chapel, 7201 Viking Hills Drive. Visitation will be 6 to 8 p.m. Friday, May 14, at Grace Gardens Mortuary, 8220 Woodway Drive, Waco, Texas. Services and burial will be 11 a.m. May 18, in Salt Lake City, Utah, at Larkin Sunset Lawn, 2350 E. 1300 South. Phillip was born in Kemmerer, Wyo. to Merrill Moffat Johnson and Verna Piirainen, March 25, 1947. He married his eternal companion, Marilyn Tadje, Dec. 27, 1968, in the Salt Lake Temple.He attended Brigham Young University, and received his BA degree in Spanish in 1971 at the University of Utah. He was elected to membership in several academic honor societies and was especially active in Phi Beta Kappa. With the aid of an NDEA Title IV Fellowship, he earned a Ph.D in Latin American Literature at the University of Utah, in 1976. After a one year position at the University of Utah, he accepted a full-time appointment at Baylor University, where he has taught since 1977. Dr. Johnson led the Baylor University Summer Study Program in Mexico from 1979 to 1982. He then initiated the Baylor Summer Study Program in Madrid, Spain from 1982 to 2003. In all, more than 400 students have participated in Summer Study during that time.Dr. Johnson was especially proud of his association with Phi Beta Kappa, serving as chapter president and vice-president from 1983 to 1984, and as chapter secretary-treasurer from 1984 to the present. During this time, more than 1400 Baylor graduates were inducted into Zeta Chapter. Dr. Johnson served on the Baylor Faculty Senate for six years, and was selected the outstanding professor in the College of Arts and Sciences in 2001. During the 1980's and '90's, he was also active in the American Association of Teachers of Spanish and Portuguese, serving as secretary of the Lone Star Chapter. Phillip was a devoted member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and served in many capacities. He completed a two-year mission to Uruguay and Paraguay ('66-'68). He served as Bishop of the Waco II Ward (1987 to 1992) and in a variety of responsibilities with the local council of the Boy Scouts of America. He and Marilyn also served as Church Service Missionaries working with addiction recovery efforts (2006 to 2009). One of his greatest joys was teaching the youth of the Church, especially in early-morning seminary. Phillip found great pleasure in watching and participating in sports and followed the University of Utah, BYU, and Baylor teams. He was an accomplished golfer and periodically took pride in besting the "usual suspects" at Cottonwood, Connally, and Twin Rivers. Phillip took a lot of pleasure in helping friends and colleagues with DIY projects and most Saturdays, the "red pick-up truck" could be found in the driveway of a friend or neighbor. The sounds of music could always be heard wherever he was found, and although he had no musical talent himself, he was especially fond of jazz and considered himself something of an expert. Phillip is survived by his wife, Marilyn; four daughters, Emily of Arlington, Va., Amy and Chris Gould of Bentonville, Ark., Lesley and Matt Dunn of Lehi, Utah, and Nancy of Salt Lake City, Utah; four grandchildren, Jackson, Melanie, and Allison Gould and Murphy Dunn. He is also survived by his parents, Merrill and Verna Johnson of Evanston, Wyo.; and brothers, Paul and Sylvia, Stephen and Mary, and Ed and Bonnie, all of Salt Lake City, Utah. Phillip and Marilyn's greatest accomplishment was their marriage to each other and their family. Phillip dearly loved and was so proud of his 'girls' and for the devotion and respect they gave him. Happily, two wonderful sons-in-law and four beautiful grandchildren have joined The Johnson clan and they have greatly enriched his life. The family would sincerely like to thank all those who have so lovingly served Phillip, Dr. Nicholas Papadopoulos at MD Anderson Hospital, Houston, Dr. John Speckmiear, Waco, Drs. Anderson and Hilton at Texas Oncology, Waco, Providence Hospice, especially Dr. Jahrmarkt, Margie, Anna, Wilda, Cheryl and Kristina. In lieu of flowers, memorials can be made to supprt the Phillip Johnson Phi Beta Kappa Endowed Scholorship Fund at www.Baylor.edu/give. March 25, 1947 - May 12, 2010 Sign the Guest Book at www.wacotrib.com