Richard E. Johnson

65, passed away in Cottonwood, Az. on Thursday, August 28, 2014. Funeral services and burial will be held at 2 p.m., Friday, in East Lawn Palms Mortuary Chapel, 5801 East Grant Road, in Tucson, Az.

Mr. Johnson was born August 1, 1949 in Olney but grew up nearby in the city of Newton, Illinois. In 1968 he moved to Tucson where he studied and received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology at the University of Arizona. For several years he worked at Palo Verde Mental Hospital as a psychologist. Then, at the age of 49 he decided to pursue his life’s dream of becoming a pharmacist. On the 24th day of February, 2006 at the age of 57, he received his Doctor of Pharmacy degree at Midwestern University in Arizona.

Rick’s first love was music. As the lead singer of The Desert Rider’s Band, he wrote and recorded several of the songs that he sang with his group. He sang Country Western and Blue Grass music at various ‘gigs’ on week-ends. Reporting on the Rincon Optimist Bluegrass Festival at Rillito Downs, The Arizona Daily Star, a Tucson newspaper, stated that the fest ival brought out some of the best of Tucson’s bluegrass musicians. The Desert Riders being listed as one of them. The newspaper reported that the band was loads of fun and put out some fine music.

Mr. Johnson was a devoted member of the Calvary Chapel of Verde Valley, Cottonwood, Az.

Surviving are his sister, Rebecca Hillman, two nephews, Brent and Kyle Hillman, two nieces, Kara and Genny Hillman, six great nephews, and four great nieces. He was preceded in death by his parents, Genevieve Harris Johnson and Percy “Pat’ E. Johnson.