Hugh Paul Johnson

God Bless you Paul! May the Lord comfort your family and friends.
The Bartons,
Tony, Jen and Mason

Beautiful obituary and beautiful memories. We have such good memories of Canyon Dr. when our children were young, along with sharing a church family together for years. We are holding you in our prayers and hope to catch up in person in the near future. Much Love to all of you -

We couldn´t have been happier to have both of you as our neighbors! I have such a fond and vivid memory during the height of covid of Paul and Doug running out to the street to give Abigail, 3 at the time, an apple and some candy for Halloween while she choo-choo´d up and down the street as Thomas the Tank Engine. And I will certainly never forget our Covid neighborhood happy hours in the cul-de-sac. A time of laughter and togetherness that we all needed during those days.

Paul was a huge presence in my life. I owe a lot to him for his guidance and advice, opportunities he opened up for me. He had a great balance of taking things seriously, but keeping them in perspective. He was both a great mentor and a great friend.

Here´s the lunch we had with you summer before last! Such sweet memories.

There are no words to describe the fun we had seeing you in different places, meeting all the children and hearing about your journey at different times over the last 40 + years. Only wish I could dig around and find some pictures from Paul and Larry´s roommate days. It was always amazing to hear you articulate your love for God, heart for the nations and people. You challenged us ! We grieve with you and look forward to the day we´ll be with Paul and you in Jesus presence. Much love to you all Larry and Julie

For those of you that knew Paul, this is no news but I would like to share my post on social media that comes from the heart:
In a world of me, me, me, there are exceptions. The Johnson family is that unique type of Christian that walks the talk.
Sometimes God sends Angels to our lives to remind us that HE exists. Paul and Jennifer adopted two great kids from Ethiopia, Lulit and Petros. They always gave 10% of their income to people in need. One day, when we were living in Austin, during the 2008 crisis, a check with no name arrived at our door. Another day, Paul came with his eternal smile with a very considerable check. He would always say, it is not from us, it is from Above. I remember so many moments, so many talks, and wise advice from Paul.
On January 31, I sent him this message:
"Hi Paul,
Just a quick note to remind you how grateful I Am for everything you did for us. For that and for so much more I will keep you forever in my heart.
Thank you.
I love you".
It is a very, very sad day for me today. At the same time, I know Paul got a straight ticket to Heaven.
I love you, Paul

I knew Paul and family for many years as neighbors, dear friends, and spiritual supporters. Paul was a steadfast pillar and leader. He had a great sense of humor and was always there with advice and support when it was needed. He and Jen helped me through a very difficult time in my life, and I will always love and remember them for this. May he rest in peace with Our Lord Jesus Christ.

We all have a handful of special people that have had a deep and profound impact on our lives. For me, Paul is on the top of my list.

When I was a young man, stuck in Lubbock, TX, Paul took a chance and gave me a job in Austin. I had oversold myself and was in way over my head, but he took the time to teach me almost everything I know about land planning and development. I remember I was struggling with zoning codes, and he would use his lunch hours to get me up to speed. I was fascinated by his superb analytical mind and strategic thinking. He was always several steps ahead of everyone in the room. He also stood out in the cutthroat business world, in that Paul was, above all else, an honest and moral man. I still find myself asking `what would Paul do?´ when in a quandary because the right answer lies there.

Several years later, Paul was offered an opportunity to head up the predevelopment department of one of the largest multifamily companies in America. I thought I would be losing my mentor and I was crushed. He kept in touch and at one point we were having a conversation about my career, and he suggested it might be time for me to start my own company - the furthest thing from my mind. But very quickly I realized he was right. I think about that moment often and how different my life would be without his guidance. I also didn´t realize at the time that having my own consulting business would mean that Paul and I would work closely together on hundreds of projects for the next 25 years. I'm so thankful for that.

I'm also grateful for all the time we spent together outside of work, especially skiing. We often jaunt off to Colorado or New Mexico under a flimsy excuse like 'business development' or 'team building.' Paul was a superb skier, and I always enjoyed watching him attack the moguls!

I will miss my friend and mentor and I will think of him often.

I only wish I had known him better.

God bless and keep you as you embark upon the rest of your journey... apart for a relatively short while before you can reunite for eternity.

I was so very sorry to hear that Mr. Johnson passed away. I know that Eleanor loved him very much, and I know that you have many happy memories of time spent together.

--Mrs. McConathy

Sending prayers for God´s comfort in your grief and for Paul´s eternal glory. My favorite memory has to be the night in Taos, going to the German restaurant after a day of skiing. The snow was glistening in the moonlight.

So very sorry - you will all see Paul again & in the meantime he is in your heart. I will always remember the time Paul joined me in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia to complete the US Embassy process for his daughter, Lulit so she could go with him to America & join her new family. Love to all, Cheryl

Paul was a genuinely caring and nuturing individual. He took the effort to provide mentoring and advice to my family, especially for one of our sons who was interested in architecture, despite his own issues and limited energy. For this we wil always be grateful. We treasured and will miss his friendship. With much love and deep respect, Steve & Lisa Govreau