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Todd Johnson Obituary
AMESBURY — Todd Johnson, 47, a lifelong Amesbury resident, passed away peacefully at home, Tuesday morning, July 28, 2009, after a lengthy illness. He is the loving husband of 21 years of Mrs. Michelle L. (Bettencourt) Johnson of Macy Terrace, Amesbury.
He was born in Haverhill, on Aug. 27, 1961, to the late Chester Reginald and Mrs. Virginia B. (Richmond) Johnson Jr. of Amesbury. He was raised and educated in Amesbury; attended Amesbury Schools and The Landmark School in Beverly.
The Johnson's settled in Amesbury, where he worked in agriculture, farming and ranching. A natural outdoorsman, he owned and managed horses, grew and sold feed and crops, enjoyed horse logging and operating horse-powered farm products.
Mr. Johnson possessed a remarkable fix-it-self-efficacy: A yes-we-can attitude that gained him the popularity he enjoyed from many friends and neighbors that sought his talents. Those who knew him will remember him as a selfless individual whose generosity and kindness will not be soon forgotten.
In addition to his devoted wife and mother, family members include: three sons, Todd Cox of Madison, N.H., Travis Johnson and Grant Johnson of Amesbury; an infant granddaughter, Jamie Johnson-Sheehan; three sisters, Dorothy Johnson of Amesbury, Heidi Moore and husband Ron of Chocorua, N.H., Beth Peritti of Newbury; one brother, Chester Johnson III of New Hampshire; many nieces and nephews; many grandnieces and nephews; several aunts and uncles.
The Johnson family would like to acknowledge the Merrimack Valley Hospice staff for the unexcelled care provided, please know you are deeply appreciated.
ARRANGEMENTS: A funeral service will be held, Sunday, Aug. 2, 2009 at Union Congregational Church, 350 Main St., opposite Alliance Park, Amesbury at 2 p.m., with Rev. Robert Ingalls officiating. Relatives and friends are kindly called to attend. In lieu of floral tributes, memorial contributions may be made to The Todd Johnson Fund, c/o Provident Bank, 5 Market St., Amesbury, MA 01913 - Tel. 978-834-8568. Condolences may be registered at www.diazhealy.com.
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
julian sanchez
August 19, 2009
i am so sorry about todds death...he was a great man and i will miss him greatly even though i have not seen him in a few years when i heard of his death i was greatly saddened
Linda Dube
August 10, 2009
I am sorry to not have been able to be there for the service but please know my heart aches for all of you during this time of the loss of Todd. The earth truely knows his name, only like it can for those who work the land as he did. Peace to you.
Judy Wright
August 5, 2009
I knew Tony and I couldn’t be at the funeral. Family matters kept us out of town, until Monday evening. The mourning of his passing, has been a private affair for me. I so wished I could have been at the funeral. I too, would have wanted to say some words in his honor.
I think we met about nine years ago, shortly after we moved here. Yes, like so many others in our community, I bought hay from Todd. At first it was apparent that he sold only good hay, which he carefully looked after with a careful eye. The way he looked after his fields reminded me of how a father watches after his children. He loved the earth, and was a man who vigilantly watched the weather. I soon grew to appreciate his upbeat attitude and his generosity to those around him. His can do , we can make this work, attitude, was contagious and deeply appreciated by those of us lucky enough to know him. Todd always seemed to be looking out for others. I remember this last spring when I was low on hay, I called him. While he didn’t have any to sell at the time, I found out a week later, when I went up into New Hampshire to look for hay, that Todd had been asking around for hay for me. The world just doesn’t get any better than having friends looking out for you. And that was Todd!
His battle to live fully to the end of life, is inspirational. He has been a model for us all. I miss him.
When I think of Todd I think of a quote I heard years ago on NPR. “ All creatures share one soul as they criss-cross over the land they so love.” I will be forever grateful that our paths in life crossed, and that I had the privilege of knowing him.
Michelle, Travis and Grant, I hope that our paths will continue to cross. Love, Judy and Tony Wright
Elyse Smiertelny
August 2, 2009
Travis,Grant and Michelle,
Very sorry to hear the news about Todd. My deepest sympathy goes out to all of you. With Peace and Love.
Elyse (Academy)
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Cheryl (Donahue)Dumaine
August 1, 2009
To the Johnson family , Michelle and sons. I am so heartbroken over this news. I had been thinking a lot about Todd and wondered why I hadn't heard from him in the last year. He had kept in contact with myself and my daughter Erin and we will miss him. My deepest sympathy goes out to all of you.
Todd's Field
August 1, 2009
Michelle's tractor
August 1, 2009
The day is done!
August 1, 2009
Todd and Allen kids
August 1, 2009
Lisa and Tim Allen
August 1, 2009
Todd came into our lives about 9 years ago when he took over our field and transformed it from poison ivy and thorns to a beautiful, productive field of hay. He would show up with Michelle and the boys at haying time and it was very exciting for us to watch and sometimes help out. Our kids still like to break out the riding toys and wagons and pretend they are Todd working the field (although I don't think Todd would approve of their pretending to smoke sticks while they work!). To us it was Todd's field.
We never knew exactly when Todd would show up, he didn't seem to live by watch or calender, but by the weather as it arrived each day. But everytime we hear the distant rumble of a tractor we will still wonder if it is Todd coming by to say hello and check on the field.
We are fortunate to have met Michelle, Travis and Grant, through Todd and we hope they continue to be in our lives.
Todd was a hard worker, and he loved to help fix things and give mechanical advice. His desire to "get it all in" was evident in his final days. Just a week before his passing, when most people would be bed-ridden and waiting for the end, Todd was out working... fixing and driving the tractor, putting down ferilizer and seed for second crop, scoping out new fields to work next Spring and planning a new place to store this season's hay. This probably hastened his end, but I don't think Todd liked to sit around and wait for things to happen. He kept moving with everything he had and accepted what was to come with grace and courage. He was always on the move but he would always make time to stop for conversation with friends. He had a down-to-earth way about him, he was honest and true, was always willing to lend a hand and could talk and get along with most everyone.
As we wonder where Todd is now we can't help but to remember what he used to say, "Hard sayin, not knowin".
Todd was a good soul and we will miss him dearly as a friend and a brother. We'll think of him fondly every time we look out at back at Todd's field.
Sincerely,
Lisa, Tim, Josef, Andrei, Katerina and Hoover
John Piretti
July 31, 2009
My sincere sympathy to his wife and sons, and his mom and sisters and all those who new him and loved him. He was a friend and a brother I shall miss him most of all those who have past to date.
Brian {big B} Morin
July 31, 2009
Please accept my deepest sympathies.
Judy Goodwin
July 31, 2009
May the love of friends and family carry you through your grief.
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