Michael Andrew Johnston

Johnston, Michael Andrew
46, passed away unexpectedly in his north Phoenix home, alone, Sunday, May 20, 2012. "Andy" was born November 23, 1965 in Cincinnati, Ohio, named Thomas Baker Williamson, lived in a foster home with five other foster babies until his first birthday when he met his adoptive parents, Ken and Helen Johnston and their newly adopted toddler daughter Leanne who needed a brother. This happy family was soon transferred by his Dad's employer to Fort Wayne Indiana 1967, then to Dallas Texas 1969, and on to the Phoenix area in 1972. Andy attended Broadmor Elementary School in Tempe for a year. The family settled in what was then central Scottsdale. Andy attended Pima Elementary School and Coronado High School. Growing up, Andy with his family participated in youth activities of Tempe Church of Christ, learning "all those Bible stories." Andy enjoyed reading trivia books, took piano lessons, drum lessons, guitar lessons, played shortstop on a Little League baseball team for six years, viewed thousands of TV cops serials and John Wayne movies over and over. Beginning in 1983 Andy was employed by Bobby McGee's Conglomeration Restaurant on McDowell in Scottsdale as a busboy. That store closed, Andy transferred to Bobby McGee's on Southern in Mesa where he worked his way up to become Bar Manager. That store closed in 1995, Andy transferred to Bobby McGee's (now Bobby-Q) in Phoenix, 8501 North 27th Avenue, where he was one of the managers until 2010, a total of 27 years with the company. He was employed by Blu Agave in Peoria for a short time. He had been unemployed for the past year. Andy was a blue jeans guy who drove a big black truck along with his big elegant Boxer slobber dog, Beau, country tunes blasting. Survivors include his adoptive parents Kenneth and Helen Johnston, a sister Leanne Johnston, Andy's birth mother Sherry Williamson Porter of Mobile AL, Uncle Roger and Aunt Donna Brand of Somers Iowa, Uncle Roger and Aunt Mary Lou Jensen of Bode Iowa, cousins scattered over five states, many many many friends. Welcoming him to heaven are his grandparents David and Jeannette Johnston of Chariton Iowa and Leslie and Esther Dey of Callender and Gowrie Iowa. Visitation will be Friday May 25 at 8 a.m. before a Celebration of Andy's Life service at 9 a.m. at Messinger Mortuary Chapel, 7601 E. Indian School Road, Scottsdale AZ 85251. Interment will follow at Green Acres Cemetery, 401 N. Hayden Road, Scottsdale AZ 85257. In lieu of flowers, suggested memorial gifts may be made to American Heart Association, Gift Processing Center, P. O. Box 78851, Phoenix AZ 85062-8851; or to Tempe Church of Christ with memo to Brother's Keeper Fund, 2424 S. Mill Avenue, Tempe AZ 85282.