Gary Johnson

JOHNSON Attorney Gary E., age 64, of Lexington, originally from Mud Creek, Floyd County, KY, died on January 26, 2015 from complications due to lung cancer, not from the hereditary coronary disease which disabled him in his 30's. Gary is predeceased by his parents, Harve Johnson and Betty Jean See Johnson, his brothers Bill Johnson and James Rodney Johnson, and his sisters Elizabeth Ann Hall Johnson, Jacqueline Rae Creech, and Lillian Frances Frazier. He is survived by his sisters, Betty Frazier, New Albany, IN, and Dorothy Jean Johnson, Lexington, KY, and also a niece, Rebecca Susan Johnson Downey, Knoxville, TN, and a nephew, Raymond Douglas Hall, Morehead, KY, who were raised as children in the home and his sweet girl, Ms. Buttons. He will be missed by his professional associates, numerous relations and friends. Gary graduated from the University of Kentucky School of Law with a Juris Doctorate in May 1976. He was proud to be a founding member of the UK Chapter of the National Lawyers Guild. Gary didn't grow up privileged. His father was a coal miner and there were 10 children. He attended Alice Lloyd College and Berea College as an undergraduate. According to his beloved mother, Gary had wanted to be a criminal defense lawyer ever since he was a small boy. He was a lifelong public defender, joining the newly created Public Defenders' office as an intern even before entering law school. Although Gary occasionally worked in a private capacity throughout Eastern KY, mostly he spent his life serving the indigent accused of Appalachia, who could not afford a private lawyer, particularly those charged with capital offenses and especially battered women who had killed their abusers and faced trial. Gary gave his clients a voice and dignity. He gave the community insight into how such violence occurred, in the hope that it would not be repeated. Throughout his career, Gary remained true to his vow of service. Working as a public defender requires a unique commitment -- Gary often performed his services without adequate compensation for the 70-80 hour weeks he many times put into his client's defense. He made early entry into the case, working many nights and weekends, if necessary. Working those hours doesn't really leave time for a home life and Gary lost his wives to divorce and had no children. Gary's numerous nieces and nephews were his kids. Most of his energies went to his clients. His true love was the law. When health issues forced him to retire from the criminal trial work he loved, he worked as a criminal appellate lawyer writing briefs. When a bypass surgery first gave him a new lease on life, Gary returned to criminal defense trial practice, and when his health later failed again, he again wrote appellate briefs and argued before the State Court of Appeals and Supreme Court. In his later years, while undergoing numerous surgeries and treatments, but unable to practice, he organized other lawyers to join defense teams as he knew the client's interests were best served by the involvement of many specialists, and volunteered as a consultant, as his declining health permitted. Gary practiced lifelong learning and he shared his knowledge and experience by writing for publications and teaching at public defender training events for new criminal defense lawyers. Gary's criminal cases have had a lasting impact on criminal law principles and tactics, and many of the holdings in his cases taken up for review are cited today in courtrooms around the country -- a proud legacy, well earned. Gary risked his own life to defend his clients. Once he shielded a battered spouse client from the vigilante justice of her husband's family with his own body, while all others in the case ran away through the hills to escape the gunfire. His client was wounded and Gary rushed her to the hospital where she survived and recovered. Gary had stories to tell, he had secrets he kept, and was a giant in his profession. Gary was passionate, eloquent and always prepared. A suitable epitaph for Gary was provided by his best friend, Attorney R Neal Walker at Gary's retirement as a practicing attorney: "He would not be silenced as long as his client's liberty or life was at stake." In accordance with Gary's wishes, a non-religious Ceremony of Remembrance will be held January 31, 2015 at the Hall Funeral Home in Martin, KY. Visitation is from 12:30-1pm with service to follow. Please come and share your stories of him. If you are unable to attend the service, please leave a favorite story at garyedwardjohnson@outlook.com and the comments will be read at the Remembrance service. Gary's ashes will be scattered by family members on the Mud Creek, KY farm where he grew up. In lieu of flowers, expressions of sympathy may be sent in Gary's name to the Kentucky Coalition to Abolish the Death Penalty, Hospice of the Bluegrass or any No-Kill Animal Shelter.