Edward L. Johnson

To Edward L. Johnson, the entire world was a stage. An expressive, optimistic, and uninhibited individual, he was a performer in the theater of life. To everyone around him, he seemed to be eternally happy, and he willingly shared that joy with anyone whose life he touched. For Edward, bringing out the best in any situation was as easy as offering a smile, a witty remark or the twinkle of an eye. And with just those simple gestures, he could evoke the most pleasant of emotions. Edward really mastered the art of living and had great fun in doing so.

Edward was born on May 21, 1931 at at home in Baltimore, MD. His parents were William Thomas and Mary Johnson. Edward was raised in Baltimore, MD. Even as a child, Edward had the ability to lift the spirits of all those around him. He was raised to be warm, caring and friendly. He couldn’t help but capture everyone’s attention. He was definitely a little bit of a show off, but in doing so, he succeeded in entertaining his entire family.

Always a good playmate, Edward was easygoing and fun loving. He managed to lighten the mood wherever he was, even during family squabbles. He seemed to have a knack for bringing compromise and erasing tense situations around the house. Due to a generous dose of common sense, Edward managed to find a satisfying solution to basic problems. Edward was raised with one sibling. He had Frances.

All of Edward's playful good humor carried over into his childhood. He was possessed with an outgoing personality, a lively imagination and a mellowed enthusiasm for life that allowed him to be constantly on the go. As a result, Edward experienced a rather active childhood, and this suited him very well. He took part in football. In his spare time he liked hockey.

The gift of being emotionally expressive and outwardly affectionate made Edward very easy to approach. On 12/55/1951 Edward exchanged wedding vows with Ann C. Allan at Ascension and Prince of Peace, Espicopal Church of Baltimore, MD. He tried hard not to impose on his spouse. He was always sensitive to other people’s feelings, and that was especially true in marriage.

Perhaps the reason Edward related so well to children was the fact that he never really completely grew up himself. The ability to be just a “kid at heart” helped him in raising his own children. Edward was blessed with 2, One son Edward T. Johnson and one daughter Carol Mueller. They were also blessed with 4, Elizabeth, Chrissy, Cortnee, Joshua. Edward had the ability to focus his attention on the present moment. If he was spending time with the kids, that’s where all of his attention was directed. Edward's compassionate side prevented him from being a strict disciplinarian, and he could turn just about any situation into a playful, learning experience. He could spend hours entertaining them with fun and creative play. In fact, Edward had a knack for turning some of those nasty old chores into games.

At work, as in life, Edward was a real “people person. ” he had a very successful way of dealing effectively with others, and his enthusiasm and energy was often contagious. Edward liked to see himself as something of a virtuoso. When dealing with various projects and problems, Edward was an adaptable realist, using his common sense and trusting his experiences and impulses to uncover the correct answer. Edward's talent for being a down to earth thinker, allowed many around him to see Edward as an excellent problem solver. His primary occupation was installation of cermaic tile and marble. He was employed as a contractor for 30 years.

Edward was a Navy veteran. He was in the Bain Bridge, MP and USS Stephen Potter. Edward saw action for the Korean Conflict. Through his hard work and dedication, he achieved the rank of Seaman.

Edward enjoyed his leisure time by taking part in various hobbies. An “arts and crafts” type, Edward liked creating and making things. His favorite pursuits were golf, wood and stone carving. Edward was content to enjoy his hobbies alone but was also willing to share his interests with others.

Edward felt excited and challenged by sports. Even if he wasn’t the best, Edward loved to participate and thoroughly enjoyed the competition and the pleasure of being around other people. Edward relished the opportunities where he could make an impact, and he would often push himself to play above his abilities. A quick thinker who understood the basics, Edward never seemed to get caught off guard, even when confronted with unexpected conflict. Recreational sports included golf. Edward was also something of a sports fan and enjoyed watching his favorite events whenever he got the opportunity. Tops on his list werefootball and golf.

Edward had an endless appetite for new and different activities. He was always ready to join in the fun and add his flair and energy to an organization. Because of his personality, his humor, and his ability to get along with everyone, Edward's service was greatly valued by the organizations to which he belonged. Throughout his later years, Edward was an active member of the Masonic Order.

Living life in the fast lane suited Edward just fine. It is no surprise that he loved to travel and to visit new and different places. He was naturally curious about other parts of the world and loved the real life adventure that came from visiting them. He was impulsive and willing to try anything once. Favorite vacations included cruises, golfing weekend tournements.

Edward believed that you had to experience life, and his life in retirement was no different. His new life involved relocating to Sun City, Summerlin, Nevada. With his boundless energy and a desire to get the most out of life, Edward remained busy with people and projects. In retirement, he found new pleasure in golfing. Even in retirement, Edward continued to stay in touch with his old friends and, since he'd never met a stranger, he made plenty of new acquaintances as well.

Edward passed away on June 11, 2010 at Solari Hospice Care. Lung cancer. He is survived by his wife Ann, daughter Carol, son Timothy, grandchildren Elizabeth, Chrissy Cortnee and Joshua. Services were held at Mountain View Presbyterian Church.

Edward brought joy to all of those around him. He never had a mean bone in his body. He loved to have a good time and was an eternal optimist, always looking on the bright side of things. He loved to share his energy, wit, and his zest for all of his activities with his friends and family. Edward L. Johnson lived life to its fullest and made everyone around him happier just for knowing him. He will be remembered with a smile.

Arrangements under the direction of Palm Summerlin-Funeral Home, Las Vegas, NV.