Richard Johnson

Johnson, Richard Wayne – On October 30, 2024, Richard Wayne Johnson, aged 46 years of age, left this world without warning, for a place full of love, loved ones, the ultimate healing and his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. A celebration of his life is in the preliminary stages of being planned for around February 15, 2025. February was a month that was special to Richard and Tanya, and she would like it to stay special and have a small celebration of his life. Another announcement with more details will be made, closer to the date. Richard was born on February 7, 1978, to Gordon and Elizabeth Johnson in Okinawa, Japan, when his dad was stationed there in the Air Force. After they returned to the United States, he lived in places like Texas, Oregon, California and the last 21 years in Roswell, New Mexico. He spent much of years growing up, in the Stockton Area. Richard enjoyed growing up in Northern California. He loved hiking, spending time with friends and had a deep love of music. He always spoke of his first love of music starting when he would hear his mother play the Beatles White Album. Richard had more “diverse” taste in music than that. When he was twelve, he got in trouble listening to Judas Priest. He loved listening to Judas Priest, Iron Maiden, Motorhead, David Bowie, Black Sabbath, Lords of Acid, Pink Floyd, The Rolling Stones, The Beatles, Wolfsuka, Nine Inch Nails, Nirvana and countless other Heavy Metal and Death Metal bands. His last wish would be to make sure everyone knew that he was not an Eagles fan. On February 16, 2004, he walked into Orange Julius at the mall to get a job and he met his future wife, Tanya Martinez. She was immediately taken by him, but he took a little longer. She was not easily deterred But, they married on June 25, 2004, after only a couple of months of official dating. Where Richard was the introvert, Tanya is the extrovert. But both always made their marriage a priority and celebrated their twentieth anniversary last June. Tanya will miss Richard every single moment of the rest of her life but knows he will be waiting for her in Heaven. The good memories and his strength give her the strength she needs now. He was not a big sports fan, but he married into the Chicago Cubs. He was more of a Aaron Judge and New York Yankees fan. He loved telling anyone who would listen that the Pittsburgh Pirates had the best stadium. He was also beyond proud of his beard. Anyone who knew Richard would tell you that he was endlessly polite. He would always ask how you were doing and apologize for everything even if there was nothing to apologize for. He worked as a host at Red Lobster for many years. He also spent several years working at the Conoco on Union and Second, before he was medically disabled in October 2013. He was blessed with a second chance at life after a week on a ventilator. When he recovered, he strived to be a better man and the day before he passed, he reached 11 years of sobriety. Despite being in chronic pain every day of those 11 years, he told family and friends that he was grateful for his second chance at life, second chance to better himself for his wife and to get closer to God. In 2008, he lost his amazing mother, Elizabeth Johnson, who he always wanted to see again and she was his first driving force for seeking out Jesus again. He also lost his brother-in-law, Matthew Capps, who was more of a brother to him and his mother-in-law, Jackie Bennett, who he had grown to consider a second mother. Richard spoke of various extended relatives and friends that had passed over the years and if possible, his dog of 15 years, Liberace, found him before anyone else could, in Heaven. Left to fill the void while being grateful he is no longer in pain is his wife and soulmate Tanya Sharon Johnson, as he always felt the need to say her full name when introducing her to people, his father Gordon, extended family that he wished that he got to spend more time with over the years and special friends: David Torrez, Alfred Francia and Keven and Andrea Woody.

Richard Johnson

February 7, 1978 - October 30, 2024