Phillip Johnson

Biography

Dr. Phillip Johnson –
Our beloved husband, father, son, brother, grandfather and friend, Phillip Johnson, passed away peacefully at home, Wednesday, May 12, 2010 after fighting a valiant battle with cancer.
Phillip was born in Kemmerer, Wyoming to Merrill Moffat Johnson and Verna Piirainen on March 25, 1947. He married his eternal companion Marilyn Tadje December 27, 1968, in the Salt Lake Temple. He attended Brigham Young University and received his BA degree in Spanish in 1971 at the University of Utah. He was elected to membership in several academic honor societies and was especially active in Phi Beta Kappa. With the aid of an NDEA Title IV Fellowship, he earned a Ph.D in Latin American Literature at the University of Utah in 1976. After a one-year position at the University of Utah, he accepted a full-time appointment at Baylor University where he has taught since 1977. Dr. Johnson led the Baylor University Summer Study Program in Mexico from 1979 to 1982. He then initiated the Baylor Summer Study Program in Madrid, Spain from 1982 to 2003. In all, more than 400 students have participated in Summer Study during that time. Dr. Johnson was especially proud of his association with Phi Beta Kappa, serving as chapter president and vice-president from 1983-1984 and as chapter secretary-treasurer from 1984 to the present. During this time, more than 1400 Baylor graduates were inducted into Zeta Chapter. Dr. Johnson served on the Baylor Faculty Senate for six years and was selected the outstanding professor in the College of Arts and Sciences during the 1980’s and ‘90’s. He was also active in the American Association of Teachers of Spanish and Portuguese, serving as secretary of the Lone Star Chapter.
Phillip is survived by his wife, Marilyn and four daughters: Emily of Arlington, Virginia; Amy (Chris) Gould of Bentonville, Arkansas; Lesley (Matt) Dunn of Lehi, Utah; Nancy of Salt Lake City, Utah and four grandchildren: Jackson, Melanie and Allison Gould and Murphy Dunn. He is also survived by his parents, Merrill and Verna Johnson of Evanston, Wyoming and brothers Paul (Sylvia), Stephen (Mary) and Ed (Bonnie) all of Salt Lake City, Utah.
Phillip was a devoted member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and served in many capacities. He completed a two-year mission to Uruguay and Paraguay (‘66-‘68). He served as Bishop of the Waco II Ward (1987-1992) and in a variety of responsibilities with the local council of the Boy Scouts of America. He and Marilyn also served as Church Service Missionaries working with addiction recovery efforts (2006-2009). One of his greatest joys was teaching the youth of the Church, especially in early-morning seminary.
Phillip found great pleasure in watching and participating in sports and followed the University of Utah, BYU and Baylor teams. He was an accomplished golfer and periodically took pride in besting the “usual suspects” at Cottonwood, Connally, and Twin Rivers. Phillip took a lot of pleasure in helping friends and colleagues with DIY projects and most Saturdays, the “red pick-up truck” could be found in the driveway of a friend or neighbor. The sounds of music could always be heard wherever he was found and although he had no musical talent himself, he was especially fond of jazz and considered himself something of an expert.
Phillip and Marilyn’s greatest accomplishment was their marriage to each other and their family. Phillip dearly loved and was so proud of his ‘girls’ and for the devotion and respect they gave him. Happily, two wonderful sons-in-law and four beautiful grandchildren have joined The Johnson clan and they have greatly enriched his life.
Waco services will be 2:00 p.m. Saturday, May 15, 2010, at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter- day Saints Chapel, 7201 Viking Hills Drive. Visitation will be Friday, May 14, 2010, 6-8 p.m. at Grace Gardens Mortuary, 8220 Woodway Drive, Waco, Texas. Services and burial will be in Salt Lake City, Utah, at Larkin Sunset Lawn, 2350 E. 1300 South on May 18, 2010, 11:00 a.m.
The family would sincerely like to thank all those who have so lovingly served Phillip: Dr. Nicholas Papadopoulos at MD Anderson Hospital, Houston; Dr. John Speckmiear, Waco; Drs. Anderson and Hilton at Texas Oncology, Waco; Providence Hospice, especially Dr. Jahrmarkt, Margie, Anna, Wilda, Cheryl and Kristina.
In lieu of flowers, memorial can be made to support the Phillip Johnson Phi Beta Kappa Endowed Scholarship Fund. You can make your gift online at www.Baylor.edu/give