John R. "Johnny" Johnson, 78 passed away Monday, September 14, 2020, after a long illness. Johnny was born in Greenville, Alabama in 1942. In 1949, his parents moved the family to Monroeville, Alabama, to grow one of his father's funeral homes. Johnny attended Monroe County High School where he played football and basketball. He also worked in the family business. Most importantly, it was while attending school that Johnny met the love of his life Dianne Cheatham. After courting her since the 8 ^th grade, they married upon their graduation from high school. As newlyweds, they moved with their dog, Pierre, to Dallas, TX, where Johnny attended Dallas Mortuary Science. Upon graduation in 1962, Johnny returned to Monroeville to work at Johnson Funeral Homes.

Upon their return they also raised a family. They had two daughters, Jennifer Leah, and Tara Elizabeth. Johnny and Dianne did not miss an opportunity to watch their daughters do anything, but most of all watch them cheer for the Monroe Academy Volunteers. He loved his daughters.

Not only was Johnny devoted to his family, but he was also devoted to others and his community. He served on the Monroeville City Council for more than 20 years. He also served on the Conecuh-Monroe County Gas Board, the Monroeville Water Board, as well as serving as the Monroe County Coroner. Johnny and his family were longtime members of the First Baptist Church of Monroeville where he also served as a deacon.

In 1992, Johnny sold the funeral home and he and Dianne retired to Orange Beach, Alabama. He continued to enjoy his hobbies of fishing, hunting, spending time with his family and friends, walking their dog Nugget, collecting old coins and money, attending Auburn football games, traveling and eating delicious food. Johnny loved to eat and he loved to talk about eating.

During this stage of his life, he also loved spending time with his five grandchildren, Jack, Catherine, Grace, John and Pete. To them he was Big Daddy. He loved to watch them play football, basketball, lacrosse, and cheer. He took them hunting fishing and for boat rides.

In 2016, Johnny, Dianne and their loving dog Sugar, moved to Birmingham, Alabama, to live with their daughter Tara and her family. This allowed Johnny to spend even more time with his daughters and all of his grandchildren.

Johnny/Big Daddy is survived by his loving soulmate, Dianne Cheatham Johnson, daughters, Jennifer Johnson Fruin (Peter) and Tara Johnson Elliot (Paul), his five grandchildren, John Haninger Fruin, Catherine Dianne Fruin, Elizabeth Grace Elliott, John William Elliott and Robert Peter Fruin, his sister Julianne Johnson Quimby (Bobby), his sisters-in-law Janice Saunders (Richard) and Kathy Stuckey (Sonny), his nieces and nephews, Toby Quimby (Maggie), Jessica Harris (Ashley), and Julie Stuckey, his grandniece Kathleen Harris, and his grandnephews Blake Quimby, Brad Quimby, Bryant Quimby, Preston Lowery and Steven Harris. He was preceded in death by his parents Julius Robert Johnson and Sybil Pickens Johnson, his sister Kathy Johnson, his nephew Robby Quimby and his niece Kristen Saunders Crandall.

Johnny and his family would like to give special thanks to all of the health care providers that worked so hard for him and provided him comfort, including Khushbu Patel, Ashley Drum, Benjamin Jones, Adam Carroll, Susan Brooks and Kira Hoskins.

Visitation will be at First Baptist Church of Monroeville from 11:00 am to 12:45pm on Monday, September 21, 2020, followed by the funeral at 1:00pm. Graveside to follow at Pineville Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations to the Alzheimer's Association, www.alz.org

Johnson Funeral Home in Monroeville, AL. is in charge of arrangements.