Brian William Johnson

Brian William Johnson, was born in Austin, Texas on January 27, 1965, and passed away in San Antonio, Texas on February 24, 2024, doing what he loved, coaching.
The son of Rosemary and Howard Johnson, and little brother to Laura Johnson Fairman, Brian was born at St. David's Hospital and grew up as an Austinite. He spent his childhood camping, fishing, and road tripping with his dad, mom, and sister. Their most favorite travel memory was going on an African Safari together. Brian graduated from Lanier High School in 1983, serving as class president, varsity letter basketball player, and a Valhalla inductee. He met his future wife, Kellie Elise Jones Johnson when he was a senior and she was just a freshman. Brian followed in his parent's and sister's footsteps attending The University of Texas at Austin where he earned his undergraduate degree in English and Kinesiology in 1987. He began his career in education at Lyndon Baines Johnson High School in Austin ISD as an English teacher and coach.
On June 10, 1989, Brian married Kellie and on October 4, 1991, they welcomed their first child, Haillie Elise Johnson. In 1994, they built a home in Round Rock, Texas and then welcomed their second child, Zacharie William Johnson, on April 13, 1995. When he and Kellie were off during the summers, it was a tradition to road trip down to Port Aransas or South Padre with Haillie, Zacharie, and family members. Brian looked forward to these family trips where he could be near the ocean and go deep-sea fishing.
An avid Texas Longhorn sports fan, he attended every home football game with Kellie, Haillie, and Zacharie. He also cheered on the Longhorns at home basketball games. His most recent trip to the Sugar Bowl with Kellie and Haillie didn't mean a win, but it made for exciting memories in New Orleans. When he wasn't watching Longhorn sports, or his favorite westerns, his hobbies included traveling with Kellie and his sister, Laura, gardening, and tending his bee hives. Brian saw the beauty that God created in nature every day and would take time to point out flowers, thunderheads, hummingbirds, or sunsets. His most favorite spot at the end of the day was his back patio, where his constant companion, his Chocolate Labrador Bella, would also be.
Brian took time to see the kindness and humanity in every person to whom he spoke. He never met a stranger and the ongoing joke was that he could talk to a wall! Brian taught and coached in Austin ISD for almost 36 years. Earning district championships and accolades in nearly every sport–baseball, basketball, girls and boys soccer, football, and track. His most treasured coaching moment was with Zacharie, where he was an assistant varsity baseball coach for LBJ's first district title in over 20 years. Brian also enjoyed traveling and cheering for Zacharie as he played collegiate baseball at St. Mary's University. It was most fitting, Zacharie's graduation day was on the baseball field, when he earned his undergraduate degree in Accounting. He was so proud that Zacharie moved back to the Austin area to join Laura's accounting firm. Brian always knew Haillie would be a teacher, because she always wanted to grade his students' tests and read his class novels. He was extremely proud of Haillie's dedication to her teaching career, and celebrated her earning her undergraduate degree in Education from The University of Texas. He constantly encouraged her to earn her Masters, until she did so in 2020, later becoming an assistant principal. He would spend many phone calls listening to her talk about her students and sharing his own teaching wisdom in return.
Brian was a writer and a gifted poet, sharing his writing and poems with Kellie, Haillie, and Zacharie, which also encouraged Haillie's love of writing. Brian ended his teaching and coaching career at Eastside Early College High School in Austin ISD. He was a constant encourager to his students and players, always wanting them to know he was there to see and love them for who they were, and for what he knew they could be.
He is survived by his wife of 34 years, Kellie Jones Johnson, his children, Haillie Johnson and Zacharie Johnson, his daughter-in-law, Paige Johnson, his sister, Laura Johnson Fairman, his niece Mallory Fairman McKeel, his great-nieces Madeleine, Mikaella and Mackenzie, his Aunt Maureen and cousins. He was preceded in death by his parents, Howard and Rosemary Johnson.
Brian's celebration of life will be held on Saturday, March 2, 2024, at Eastside Early College High School gymnasium at 2:00 p.m.; 900 Thompson St. Austin, TX. His family asks that you wear burnt orange or your favorite Texas gear in honor of Brian and his love for his Texas Longhorns. Donations in honor of Coach Johnson may be made to the Eastside Athletics department so that student passions and athletic opportunities may continue to be positively impacted. Mailed donations may be sent to the following address: Eastside Early College High School, 900 Thompson St., Austin, TX 78702, "in care of Coach Luis Becerra."
"Til' Gabriel Blows His Horn"