Michael Johnson

1956 - 2023

Michael William Johnson

Woods Cross, Utah - OBITUARY OF MICHAEL WILLIAM JOHNSON

Michael William Johnson, beloved husband, father and grandpa, returned home to his Heavenly Father on Monday, February 20, 2023 from problems related to diabetes. Mike was born a fighter on August 11, 1956 in Salt Lake City, Utah to Fred Johnson and Jane Spears Cooley. He continued to be a fighter throughout the rest of his life, not only for his health, but for all things that were good and right.

He was raised in Kaysville, Utah and graduated from Davis High School Class of 1974. He was a track star, breaking several state records. Mike served a mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints in the Las Vegas Nevada Mission. Upon his return from his mission, Mike took employment at the LDS Distribution Center. After extensive training and certifications, he became a Printer and enjoyed the time he spent printing the Book of Mormon, a book which he loves.

He had a love for U.S. history, particularly the Civil War and found every opportunity to learn more. He went to Washington, D.C. with Devon when he was studying U.S. history in school and it was a trip Mike cherished. He had an amazing memory that led to an extensive knowledge of music and a wide variety of other facts.

Mike was a devoted father to Christopher, James, Danny, Rebecca, Devon and Ryan. He loved his children with all of his heart. He married his sweetheart, Ginger Pinales on February 3, 2006. They were later sealed for time and all eternity in the Bountiful Temple. He repeatedly referred to Ginger as his "Angel". He has two beautiful granddaughters, Emelia and Tarah, who were the light of his life.

Mike enjoyed the outdoors, traveling, reading and spending time with Ginger. Family was everything to him and he never passed up an opportunity to spend time with family camping, being out in nature, fishing or taking a staycation in Park City, Bear Lake, Moab or Yellowstone.

Mike was blessed with many rare gifts, one being that he was an incredibly gifted teacher. He loved the Savior, and had a beautiful and strong testimony that he loved to share. He loved reading the Bible and Book of Mormon and was an accomplished scriptorian. Mike was a patriot and loved his country.

He had a love of football and was the biggest BYU fan. He had BYU season tickets and went to as many of the games as possible with Christopher, Devon and his future daughter-in-law, Jenna Hall. He was a cowboy at heart and loved his country music. He loved people and made friends wherever he went.

Christopher remembers going to the big field at the bottom of their street where his brothers and sister would go sledding and have snowball fights with their Dad. Devon has memories of Mike reading Spiderman to him, jumping on the trampoline, supporting him at all of his football games and going with him to the Priesthood sessions and to dinner afterwards. Emelia and Tarah remember grandpa's "tickle eyes" and then tickling them to pieces, and playing the SpongeBob game over and over again.

We will miss his laugh, smile, jokes, friendship and his amazing hugs. We will remember him beating us in Ticket to Ride, making s'mores on the firepit, his "tickle eyes" and his amazing knowledge of so many facts. We will cherish the stories of his life, his advice and his talks. He was truly an inspiration to us all. Mike, you are no longer in pain or confined to a wheelchair and you have graduated from this life! We love you and cannot wait until we see you again.

He is preceded in death by his dad Marcus Cooley, father Fred Johnson, his grandparents, his sister Margaret Cooley, his daughter-in-law Melanie Featherstone Johnson, his niece Cressida Ming, his mother-in-law Clara Welsh and father-in-law Vince Welsh and his niece Amber Lee. He is survived by his mother Jane Cooley, the love of his life and wife Ginger, children Christopher, Ryan Spencer (Chantel), Devon Pinales (Jenna Hall), James, Danny, Rebecca, granddaughters Emelia and Tarah Spencer, brothers and sisters: Beth Stepp (Keith), Scott Johnson (Diana), Pam Johnson, David Johnson (Katy), Eileen Bryner (Arlin), Marcus Cooley (Suzanne), Carolyn Cooley Yewdall (Walter), John Cooley (Cathy), Reonia Jacobson (Don), Bill Cooley (Deanna), Tammy Lee (Mark), Kimberley Bobo (Grady), Jack Welsh (Dana), William Welsh, Suki Welsh and many nieces, nephews, aunts and uncles, cousins and precious friends.

A viewing will be held at Russon Brothers Mortuary, 295 North Main Street, Bountiful, Utah on Thursday, March 2, 2023 from 6:00-8:00 p.m. Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m., on Friday, March 3, 2023, with a viewing from 9:45-10:45 a.m. prior to the services to be held at the LDS Stake Center located at 1509 West 1500 South Woods Cross, Utah. Interment will be at the Farmington City Cemetery, 500 South 200 East, Farmington, Utah.

Services will be streamed on the Russon Brothers Mortuary Facebook page and on this obituary page. The live stream will begin about 10-15 minutes prior to the service and will be posted below. Online guestbook at www.russonmortuary.com.