Leon Roger Johnson

     Leon Roger Johnson, 86, of Mayville, passed away on Sunday, December 5th, 2021 at St. Vincent Hospital in Erie, PA.

     He was born October 16, 1935 in Brocton, NY, the son of the late Neil J. and Gertrude Morrison Johnson.

     Leon was a 1953 graduate of Cassadaga Valley High School.  He then earned a Bachelor’s Degree in History from Roberts Wesleyan College and a Master’s Degree in Education from Syracuse University.  In 1958 he began his teaching career at Panama Central School and in 1961 moved to Mayville Central School, teaching history, Economics, Psychology and Sociology until retiring in 1990.  While at MCS he also taught GED programs to inmates at the Chautauqua County jail.

     He served as faculty president for many years at Mayville, as well as the president of Chautauqua County Teachers Association.  Leon was a member of the NYS Teachers Union and served as a delegate and on committees at the state level.  He was a long-time member of the Brocton Free Methodist Church where he taught adult Sunday School for many decades.  Recently he was a member of Gerry Free Methodist Church, and then attended Park United Methodist Church in Sinclairville.  Leon had held many offices and served on many administrative committees within the Free Methodist Church and was a delegate for Free Methodist Conferences both regionally and nationally.  He was Treasurer and then President and trustee for Cattaraugus Christian Camp, for which he was a tireless worker.  In retirement he has continued to be an avid gardener, gentleman farmer, restorer of antique wagons and tractors, while reading widely and traveling internationally. 

     Leon is survived by, and much missed by, his loving wife of 65 years, Nancy Carol Farren Johnson, whom he married June 2, 1956 in Brocton, NY.  Other survivors include nine children: Jeffery Johnson of New Brunswick, Canada; Jane (Timothy) Bell of New London, IA; Joy (Paul) Shewan of North Chili, NY; Mary (Dan) Kennedy of Bergen, NY; Steve Johnson of Mayville, Richard (Elizabeth Baaker) Johnson of Rexford, NY, Andy (Angie) Johnson of Sinclairville, NY; Michael Johnson of Mayville, Robin (Peter) Matthews of Panama City, FL; other special family members; daughter-in-law Debbie Frudd Johnson of Warsaw, NY; Lisa (John) Day and Matthew Johnson of Piney Flats, TN; twenty-six grandchildren, eighteen great grandchildren; one sister, Nancy Sisson of Sinclairville and one brother, Ron (Pauline) Johnson of Brocton, NY.  Both Leon and Nancy provided foster care for numerous children over several decades.

     In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by a brother and sister-in-law, Jim and Patricia Johnson of Stockton, NY, and brother in law George Sisson, Gerry, NY.

     The funeral will be held at 11 a.m. on Saturday, December 11, 2021 at the Park United Methodist Church in Sinclairville, NY (49 Sinclair Drive).  The Rev. Dave McCarthy will officiate.  Burial will be in the Mayville Cemetery.

     The family will receive friends from 6-8 p.m. on Friday, December 10, 2021 at the Freay Funeral Home in Mayville (139 S. Erie St.), as well as for one hour prior to the funeral (10-11 a.m.) on Saturday at the church.

     Memorial contributions can be made to the Cattaraugus Christian Camp (Venmo: Cattaraugus-Christian Camp (or c/o Elizabeth Johnson 179 Sugar Hill Rd., Rexford, NY 12148).

     To leave remembrance or to post condolences to the family, please visit freayfuneralhome.com.