Thad McClure Johnson Obituary (1937 - 2017)

The world lost the brightest and merriest light on September 11, 2017, in Boston, MA with the passing of Thad McClure Johnson. Born in Provo to Allan and Inez Johnson, Thad was raised in Salt Lake and Orem along with his three sisters, Virginia, Travis, and Adele, and his older brother, Mick. Many might wonder what he was doing spending his last days in Boston. It sure as heck wasn’t to go visit historical houses, even though he was history buff. It might have been to watch the Red Sox Winning Streak--nothing delighted Thad more than a hot dog and a good baseball game. Thad graduated from BY High in 1955 where he was famous for the time he was told to bring something interesting to art class and he brought a cow into the school and dragged it up the stairs, right into the classroom. There was also the time he put Limburger cheese into the heating vents and hung a mouse over his the head of his sister, Virginia, sending her screaming out into the yard in her slip. At seventeen years old, Thad joined the Navy and was decorated many times for his bravery and his Mormon coffee, meaning, he had never made coffee before and when he had kitchen duty, he accidentally doubled the caffeine. Thad was stationed in Rhode Island and San Diego, and it was while he was there that he found his “Hot Tamale” Marla Fackrell. He loved to tell about the moment he saw her from the deck of the USS Sperry and told his commanding officer, “I’m going to marry that girl.” He devoted himself to loving her and making her laugh for the next 60 years. After 6 children, 25 grandchildren and a million great-grandchildren, Thad was able to indulge his inner sports fanatic and attend every baseball, football, basketball, and water polo game, and even was willing to drive twelve hours to watch his grandchildren play, then turn around and head home. With his lead foot and love of driving, Thad was never accused of slowing down traffic, and many on the road were treated to the “Thad Johnson Glare” if he thought you were driving like a dumbass. Thad’s colorful careers ranged from police officer to paramedic, Allan’s lumberyard to star salesman, where he was given an award every year for his sales prowess. If you spent any time with Thad, you are most likely familiar with laughing until you cry, the man never passed up the chance to tell a good joke, and his witty observations usually left a trail of people doubled over in laughter. Even in his last hours, he managed to flip the bird at his son who was expounding on the unhealthy dangers of Kentucky Fried Chicken. Thad loved cowboy songs, apple orchards, watching the ocean, and telling submarine stories that were at least 50% true. He was the ultimate patriot, and his proudest accomplishment, aside from his family, was his time spent in the Navy. Thad died knowing that The Pink Panther Strikes Again was the funniest movie ever, Calvin and Hobbes were the greatest life teachers, Elvis was the best singer on the planet, John Wayne was the MAN, bacon was healthy, and saltines could solve any ailment, from headaches to the flu. And if you threw in some vanilla ice cream and marshmallows, well, you could pretty much cure anything. Add a little whipped cream and you’re talking about world peace. Thad loved to move his family around, and they lived in Utah, California, Arizona and Chicago. In his final month, he had moved to Boston to live with his daughter. We’re not sure if it was her multitude of loud pets or the cancer that finally did him in. What we do know is that he is our most cherished Beloved, and the world won’t be the same without his deep wisdom and quick wit. His devotion to his family was unparalleled, and he leaves a legacy of people who not only love him deeply, but laugh harder, live to the fullest, and understand the unbridled joy of a strong family because of him. He was a mentor in what it means to be honest and kind, strong and brave, loyal and true, and most of all, that there is almost always something to laugh about. He kept the doctors and nurses laughing in his last days with his wise cracks (Do you know where you are? I sure as hell do… don’t you? If you don’t know I’m not going to tell you.”) He will be deeply missed. He is survived by his beautiful wife, Marla, and six children, Carlos Johnson, Marlina Rhodes, Vaughn Johnson, Maria Day, Marci Johnson, and Marlise Cusick, their spouses and magical children and grandchildren (too many here to list or we’d go broke from the word count.) To celebrate Thad’s life with his family, his services will be held on Monday, September 18, 2017, at a Provo Chapel located at 3500 North, 180 East at 12:00 noon, with a viewing from 11:00-11:45 am, followed by a military burial at Camp Williams at 2:30pm.