Garrett Monroe Johnson

Garret Monroe Johnson, 59, of Knoxville, TN, died peacefully on September 16, 2025, after an extended battle with liver disease.

He was born September 25th, 1965, in Fort Wayne, Indiana, second son to Gordon Johnson Sr. and Gracie Roberts Johnson. He spent his earliest years there surrounded by aunts, uncles, and cousins. In time, his family returned to Raven, Virginia where he spent his grade school years. His youth was spend romping through mountain hills, fishing the Clinch River, and developing his love for baseball.

In high school Garret "One T" played at Honaker High. Under the tutelage of Coach Harding and Coach O'Connor Garret played both baseball and basketball and would forever be a Tiger at heart. Through the love and support of his high school coaches he went on to play baseball at Hiwassee College and Tennessee Wesleyan College, continuing to grow his passion and taking one step closer to fulfilling a young man's dream of playing in the Major Leagues.

While at Hiwassee doing what he loved, and by no means do we mean school, he met the mother of his beloved daughters. During their courtship and time at Hiwassee Garret signed up to be a volunteer firefighter with the US Forestry Service, working numerous small fires in Cherokee National Forrest based out of Tellico Plains, Tennessee. His Cherokee National Forrest crew was also called as a part of a national relief call to the service of a large drought fire in Idaho. While in Idaho fighting fires Garret developed what would become a lifelong dislike for eggs, due to the reaction in the aluminum meal containers that were delivered to the crews causing the eggs to turn green.

Garret was a hard worker with a warm heart who would give a helping hand to all. In their first year of marriage Garret and Dawn lived in Greenville, South Carolina were Garret worked with Dan Rivers Textiles. Shortly after they moved back to Tennessee where Garret did general contracting work and eventually specialized in plumbing which led to him working many happy years with Adam's Plumbing, a residential new build contractor. Later he worked at the University of Tennessee within the Physical Maintenance division, from which he retired.

Even through his retirement Garret spent his days doing "jack-off-all-trade" jobs for people in his community. Often offering to help seniors who had no support systems with small maintenance projects. Some of his fondest moments came from helping his daughter Stephanie with household projects and critiquing her repair techniques.

While "G" never made it to the big leagues you could still find him at Willow Creek Park dragging fields and chalking lines. In his final days you could find him at Douglas Dam exploring with his trusty sidekick Apollo, or at home on Saturdays cheering on the Vols with his roommate Paula.

He is survived by his daughters Brittany (Wesley) Morgan Hawkins and Stephanie Monroe Johnson of Knoxville; brothers Gordon (Dedra) Willard Johnson Jr. of Knoxville and Galen (Angela) Kerry Johnson of Atlanta, Georgia; nieces Sydney Eryn Johnson of Knoxville and Shelbey Gail Johnson of Knoxville; friend Paula Schettini of New Market; and many more cousins and friends.

He is proceeded in death by his parents Gordon and Gracie.

Funeral Services were provided by Dockery Funeral Home of Morristown, TN. To stay true to G's personality there will be no formal service. A gathering for Celebration of Life will be scheduled shortly and a remembrance outing is being planned for Opening Day of baseball season in the Spring.

In lieu of flowers donations can be made to Willow Creek Park.