Herbert Clayton Johnson

Herbie showed kindness to everyone who had the privilege of knowing him, and to know him was a privilege indeed. He was born on December 27th, 1951, to Herbert Y. and Kathryn Eitel Johnson. He married his one true love, Linda Bussell, in 1979, and the two became proud parents of their daughter, Lesley, in 1982.

A gentle and patient soul, Herbie believed in the power of benevolence and that good people outnumber the bad. He regularly cared for and fed stray animals, including a cat named Otis and a catbird named Frank. He was incredibly strong and impressively wise, but most importantly, he was kind. He considered compassion, forgiveness and love important teachings of Jesus Christ, and he demonstrated all three in the way he treated others and the manner in which he lived.

In the film It’s a Wonderful Life, earthbound guardian angel Clarence explains to a distressed George Bailey that, “Each man’s life touches so many other lives. When he isn’t around, it leaves an awful hole.”

With his passing, Herbie Johnson left such a hole in the hearts of all those who loved him – especially his wife and daughter, both of whom will miss him every day for the rest of their lives. But they will also move forward knowing that pure, selfless love exists and that great men aren’t always the ones who have monuments erected in their names. All too often, a great man goes largely unnoticed. He gives of himself unconditionally with a quiet and stoic grace. He brightens the world with his compassion. And he passes quietly, leaving his grief-stricken daughter to pen an obituary that can’t possibly express what a hero her father is and will always be in her eyes.

Herbie is preceded in death by his parents, two sisters (Norma Taylor and Kathy Johnson) and two brothers (Perry “Bugsy” Johnson and Milton Carl Johnson). Along with his wife and daughter, survivors include his four siblings: Perleen “Pee Wee” (Charlie) Detro, Edith (John) Davis, Jayne (Jerry) Elliott and Eddie (Lisa) Johnson.

Visitation will be held at Knox and Brothers Funeral Home on Sunday, February 28th, from 5 to 8 p.m., and funeral services will be held at the funeral home on Monday, February 29th, at 11 a.m. with burial following at Maysville Cemetery. Pallbearers include Charlie Detro, Robbie Detro, Mike Detro, Jacob Johnson, Jerry Elliott and Christopher Hanson. Honorary pallbearers include Spencer Johnson, Ian Edgington, Tim Douglas, Raechael Flora and Maeghaen Flora.