Elliott Garfield Johnson

Blessed are the pure in heart, for the shall see God. On June 26, 1981, our heavenly father sent a very special baby boy to Charles and Priscilla Johnson. They named him Elliott. This precious bundle of joy was born with many medical issues and doctors said he wouldn't survive. But God had other plans.

Even as doctors continued to tell his parents that he wouldn't survive they cradled Elliott in their arms and took him home. The weeks and months that followed were extremely hard. Doctors told them that Elliott would never know them as parents. They believed he was deaf and blind but Priscilla and Chuck believed in their hearts that Elliott was a little miracle and continued to love and care for him.

There would be hundreds of hospital stays and many "flight for life" trips to Denver. Elliott endured many cranial and abdominal surgeries.

As Elliott grew and celebrated many birthdays, it was time for him to go to school. Elliott was very bright. He wasn't blind and he could hear everything. He loved school. He would come home and tell his mom and dad all about his friends and teachers. School was his social outlet. He looked forward to each day but the highlight was the bus ride. He could hardly wait for the big yellow bus to come down the street to pick him up.

As years passed and he became a teenager his life was filled with music. He would sing at the top of his lungs. Bob Marley was his favorite and he memorized all of his songs. Elliott was very adept in pressing all the right buttons on his boom box. Family and friends were always invited to music hour with him. He was quite the "Dee Jay." He also loved singing his favorite hymns. He was mom and dads song bird.

Elliott loved his God. He would tell everyone that he wished they could be Christian. He always invited you to his church. So Elliott was quite the EVANGELIZER also.

All his life his sister Celestee was there for him. Her youth was spent in many hospital stays. She played with her cousins in the hospital hallways. She spent many days with grandma and grandpa and her uncle and aunt. So when she told us all she was going to nursing school we were shocked. She has been a great help to her parents. She is such an excellent R.N. Her parents have always depended on her expertise and they value her advice. Celestee has always been instrumental in arranging Elliott's hospital stays and she has been at his side for many of his procedures.

Elliott was the nucleus of our family. He was a GIFT from GOD. His innocence of heart and pure spirit brought you to your knees. He was always happy, loving and always grateful for the simple things in life.

Elliott was quite the comedian and he was ornery as well. He knew just what strings to pull when he had you laughing to the point of tears. He had the memory of an elephant. He would remember things that happened when he was little and his memories were so vivid that he would leave you astonished with his detailed accounts.

In May or this year, Elliott's shunt started to malfunction and he underwent a shunt revision. He was never the same and this hospital stay would be his last.

The evening of August 26, Elliott gazed up upon his Savior's face and he received his heavenly crown. The angels came and escorted him to his heavenly home. Waiting at the gates were his grandparents, Fritz and Edda Trujillo and Garfield and Irene Johnson. Also there to greet him were his uncles Eugene and Reynaldo Trujillo. His special friends who went before him were also there. What a joy that had to be.

Elliott was confined to a wheelchair most of his life. He walked briefly. What a joy for Elliott to walk the streets of gold with his heavenly father.

Chuck and Priscilla will be lost without their Elliott. For 41 years their lives were filled with laughter, joy and many heartaches as well. They embraced the responsibility that God entrusted to them. Never wavering. What LOVE. What FAITH.

Doctors shared with us that Elliott lived to be 41 because of the love and meticulous care his parents gave to him.

Elliott is survived by his parents, Charles and Priscilla Johnson; his sister, Celestee (Matt) Martinez; and his nephews Chase and Colton. He will be missed greatly by his uncles and aunts, Rita and Ruben Romero, Edward and Marybeth Trujillo, Daniel and Debbie Trujillo, Claudia and Harvey Smith and Edward Johnson. He leaves many cousins to keep his memory alive.

Charles and Priscilla wish to thank everyone who visited Elliott over the years and those who sent cards to him on special occasions. Special thanks to his church family and Dr. Craig Shapiro and Dr. Travis Archuleta for their compassionate care. A loving thank you to Eleanor Casares and family. Thank you for taking Elliott on his long walks in the neighborhood. He would get so excited and looked forward to them. We wish to thank Juana Tafoya for her special care. A special thank you to his cousin Mario Romero, his wife Suzanne and their seven children who cared for Elliott when Chuck had a surgical procedure. He loved every minute with all of you. Suzanne cooked his favorite foods and they tended to his every need. They totally spoiled him. A most loving thank you to Celestee, Matt and Chase and Colton for your love and support as you kept vigil at Elliott's bedside. He was never left alone as he transitioned from this life to everlasting life. We love you and we will be eternally grateful to you.

There are no words to fully capture Elliott's unbelievable 41 years of life. Though he suffered much he was always so happy. Elliott was simply a miracle.

He fought the good fight. He finished the race. He kept the faith. Well done, good and faithful servant.

Services for Elliott will take place on September 9, 2022 at 11AM at Southwest Church of Christ, with a reception to follow immediately. We will lay Elliott to rest at Imperial Memorial Gardens at 4PM following the reception.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.imperialfunerals.com for the Johnson family.