Ray H. Johnson

Ray H. Johnson, passed away in his home in Scottsdale, Arizona on July 24, 2024 at the age of eighty seven. He spent his entire professional career with the international accounting firm Price Waterhouse & Co. starting in the Los Angeles office in 1961. Ray became a partner in 1971 and later, in 1976, served in the firm's Orange County, California office as Partner in Charge. From 1987 to 1989 Ray and his wife Linda migrated to "The Big Apple", New York City, with the firm. During that time Ray assumed the role of the SEC Consulting Partner and then the Corporate Finance Director - National Mergers and Acquisitions Technical Services. Ray was known for having an uncanny ability with numbers as well as a unique talent for putting together creative financial deals.

Born at home in Haines City, Florida on the 9th of October in 1936, Ray was the fourth of five children born to Richard and Maitland (DeLoach) Johnson. Having parents that lived through The Great Depression, and growing up during World War II, Ray and his siblings knew the value of a dollar and worked at various jobs starting at a young age. The Johnson's had a strong work ethic and valued hard work!

Ray was an excellent student and always looked forward to going to school, where he had perfect attendance, although his favorite childhood memories involved building things with his two brothers, R.N. and Ronnie. The boys built bicycles and go carts from discarded parts as well as forts and cabins from wood scavenged from the nearby piney woods of Central Florida. Ray spent many summers swimming in the local lakes where he was known to have frequently, "wrestled the gators".

Following graduation from Haines City High School at the age of 17, Ray hitchhiked to San Antonio, Texas where he sought opportunity in the United States Air Force. He was eventually stationed at the Davis-Monthan Air Force Base in Tucson, Arizona where the military sponsored his education at the University of Arizona. After obtaining his MBA, and marrying his wife Linda, Ray sought his future in Southern California where he and Linda raised their family for the next memorable twenty-five years.

Ray thrived on challenge and continued to pursue stimulating projects into retirement. Not content to spend his time fishing or on a golf course, Ray, with Linda, enjoyed a second career building homes and later expanded into commercial real estate where they established a thriving business based in the Dallas Fort Worth area of Texas.

A strong advocate of higher education, Ray generously extended financial support to any of his children or grandchildren that wanted to attend college. He proudly served on the College of Business and Administration National Board of Advisors at his alma mater, the University of Arizona.

Ray was lovingly devoted to his wife and children. He was the sure and steady rock of his family with a quiet faith that sustained him in his final years. He is survived by his wife of 67 years, Linda (Smart) Johnson, daughter Jodi (Johnson) Horist and son in law James Horist, daughter Jill Johnson, son Ronald Johnson and daughter in law Kim (Lee) Johnson. He is also survived by his eleven grandchildren, (Jennifer Griffith, Travis Piper, Katie (Elias) Levine, Emily (Elias) Harchelroad, Oren Elias, Lindsey Horist, Henry Horist, Kelsea (Johnson) Miller, Kenneth Johnson, Kade Johnson, Kai Johnson), and three great grandchildren (Jadon Griffith, Mia and Cameron Miller). Ray was preceded in death by his eldest daughter, Alice (Johnson) Elias. A private family memorial service will be held in Scottsdale, Arizona.