- Date Of Death: February 1, 2008
- State: Florida
JOHNSON, CLAIR L. “JOHNNY”
Clair L. “Johnny” Johnson, age 87, a resident of Moontide Condominium, died Friday February 1 in New Smyrna Beach. Born in La Harpe, Kansas, April 4, 1920, he made New Smyrna Beach his full-time home in 1998, coming from West Bloomfield, Michigan. He and his wife have been winter residents of the area since 1988.
An avid sportsman, his life-long love of football kicked off at Arizona State Teacher’s College (now Arizona State University) in Flagstaff, where he played varsity football. He subsequently coached Little League football in West Bloomfield, Michigan, where he lived for over 50 years. Mr. Johnson was a fervent Michigan State supporter, and became a Florida Gator fan when he settled in the area. His interest in sports ran the gamut from sailing to shuffleboard, and he won the Moontide Shuffler’s Championship in 2001.
A Lieutenant and pilot in the United States Navy during World War II, Mr. Johnson was stationed at St. Simons Island, Georgia. It was there that he met and married his wife of 62 years, Doris. He worked for General Motors, Prudential Insurance Co. and Artim Transportation, all in the Oakland County area of Michigan, before retiring in 1985.
Mr. Johnson was a member of the Elks Lodge #810 of Pontiac, Michigan, American Legion Post 17 of New Smyrna Beach, and LaHarpe Lodge #0325, F.& A.M., LaHarpe, Kansas. At Moontide, he could be found exercising in the pool every day, joined by his many friends.
He is survived by his wife Doris; two daughters, Sue Appel, of Farmington Hills, Michigan, and Jo Pickett, of New York City; a son William Johnson, of Indiana; two grandchildren, Amy Ausmus of Bel Air, Maryland, and Marc Kimball of Charleston, and two great-granchildren.
