Gerald W. Johnson

Gerald Willis Johnson, age 84, a long time resident of Shelbyville, KY, passed away Tuesday November 5th late in the evening at Maury Regional Medical Center.

Gerald was born on August 16, 1929 in Lexington, KY to the late Edgar and Ethel Fain Johnson. Later his father married Ethel Honican Johnson. Gerry graduated from Lafayette High School. After school he would join and be honorably discharged from The Untied States Army in 1950 after having served with occupational forces In Japan. Later he attended Fugazzi Business College in Lexington, Ky.

Gerry retired as Regional Sales Manager for Landmark Community Newspaper
Inc. in 1994.
Gerry was an active member of First Baptist Church of Shelbyville, KY, where he served as a Moderator, Deacon, a Sunday School teacher, RA leader, Personnel committee, and as Training Union Director. Aside from Church, Gerry as an active member and officer of Shelbyville Kiwanis Club and served in numerous community organizations. After being diagnosed with Parkinson’s in 1997 Gerry was a member of the Shelby County Parkinson’s group.

He was a proud member of ‘Gerry’s Girls’ an art Class at Olive Branch Methodist Church in Ky, which provided him with tremendous joy during his battle with Parkinson’s disease. Gerry was an avid sports fan but mostly a true blue loyal Kentucky wildcat fan.

Gerry became a resident of Columbia, TN in June of 2011 and resided with his daughter Lisa Renee and her husband Bob Vassar on Spainwood, St.

Gerry is survived by his loving wife, Mary “Frances” Johnson; One son: Gerry Randall (Deborah Powell) Johnson of Carbondale, IL; One daughter: Lisa Renee (Bob) Vassar of Columbia, TN; One grandson: Jere Logan Johnson; Four granddaughters: Margaret Elizabeth Johnson, Mary Elisabeth Vassar (Josh) Taylor, Sara Katherine Vassar and Rachel Lee Vassar; Two great grandsons: Jackson Davis Taylor and Austin Robert Taylor. He was preceded in death by his brother: Edgar Riley Johnson, his sister: Sue Johnson (Bill) Sexton and his stepmother Ethel Honican Johnson.
He is survived by his brother Ronald Richard (June) Johnson of Madisonville, KY.

The family will receive friends Friday, November 8, 2013 from 4:00 to 8:00 p.m. at Shannon Funeral Home in Shelbyville, KY. Services will be held on Saturday at 11:00 a.m. with interment to follow at Grove Hill Cemetery. A Celebration of Life Reception will be held Tuesday, November 12, 2013 at Pleasant Heights Baptist Church in Columbia, TN from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m.

Gifts of honor can be sent to: Parkinson support center of Kentuckiana, 315 Townepark Circle Suite 100, Louisville, KY 40243 -Email: info@pscky.org Or
Southern Illinois Parkinson’s group C/o Southern Illinois Healthcare SIH Foundation
1239 east main street giving.info@sih.net Or First Baptist Church, 1516 Midland Trail, Shelbyville, KY 40065

Family would like to give special thanks to all his special caregivers across two states

Williams Funeral Home is in charge of the local arrangements. You may send the family your condolences at www.williamsfh.com .