Jay Kimberly (Kim) Johnson

A valiant son has returned to his Heavenly Father. Jay Kimberly (Kim) Johnson passed away suddenly on March 7, 2022 at home after suffering a heart attack.

Kim was born January 27, 1955 in Salt Lake City, and lived the entirety of his life in Utah. He graduated from Granite High School in 1973 and began a successful career in sales with Jack Wolfe Ranchwear and continued in sales until he fulfilled his desire to increase his education.

With his passing, he was reunited with his parents Ferris F. and Barbara Spencer Johnson, and his older sister Shelley Gutke-Hall and their brother Steven who had passed before either were born.

He married Tila Wolfgramm the year he graduated, they later divorced. Together they had 6 boys.

Kim was a faithful member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.  He had served as a tour guide at The Visitor’s Center on Temple Square for The Church in Salt Lake City during his young adult years as he gained a strong testimony and love for The Book of Mormon. He loved teaching The Gospel of Jesus Christ and was called upon to teach in every ward he had lived in.

Kim was athletic, an outdoorsman who enjoyed hunting, fishing, hiking, and many other activities in nature. He was an excellent skier and taught many others how to ski. He was a firearms enthusiast and an excellent marksman.

Kim attended Weber State College then transferred to The University of Utah and was accepted into The College of Pharmacy at the U. He graduated in 1987. He worked in retail pharmacy and continued just past retirement age easing into it as he reduced his hours. He loved helping people and developed many friendships with members of the community while working for Albertson’s then Walmart.

He was also an avid reader enjoying the scriptures along with fine literature and works of fiction. In his final years he had enjoyed the thrilling stories found online by those who shared their experiences with the legendary Sasquatch.

He had worked hard his entire life and had spent his last morning riding his stationary bike, then as he collected the ingredients for his diabetic breakfast drink he was quietly taken, suffering no pain in that moment a gift from a merciful Father.

He also served in the Utah Army National Guard Reserves as a 2Lt. for a short time before resigning his commission.

Kim served the Lord with quiet devotion. His love for the Savior was the constant in his life and learned that obedience brought blessings.

Kim married Julie (Casdorph) Johnson in 1988 in Park City, UT and later solemnized their marriage in the Bountiful, Utah Temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. His love for her cannot be measured, for who is able to measure eternity. Together they built a life and a marriage to last forever.

His devotion to family was the foundation for their success. His influence and support provided his sons the ability to weather the storms of life and rise to the level of manhood with strong loving relationships of their own, that honor their Father, Julie, their mother Tila and her husband Tony.

Although he had enjoyed hunting, his decision to care for an aging Moluccan Cockatoo in need, brought about a change. He lost his desire to take the life of an animal. She joined the family and stayed over twenty years. His little dog Spike passed away last fall at age seventeen. Spike’s passing was very difficult for Kim. His remaining four-legged companion Zoey shared every evening with him as they learned about Sasquatch together.

Kim will be remembered as the real-life Santa by his family. He provided cherished Christmas traditions and year-round acts of kindness and generosity. Kim was deeply loved by his family, his friends, and coworkers. Most of all, he was loved by Julie. They lived for one another.

He is survived by his wife Julie, of Centerville, his sons: Shem (Rachel) South Jordan, Floyd (Bella) Millcreek, Paul Frazier (Sarah) Provo, Eldon (Chase) Midvale, Spencer (Kara) Tooele, Nephi (Hayley) Hamilton, New Zealand, Colt (Tori) North Salt Lake. His greatest source of pride and joy was being a grandpa. He loved each of his 27 grandchildren for who they were. Then he experienced the ultimate joy as a Great-Grandpa of 3. He is also survived by his older brother John Johnson, Kanab, Utah, several nieces and nephews and his furry angel Zoey.

Shortly after his death the “Celebration of his Life” began. As family members arrived, they united in love to personally and privately share their feelings and memories of him, singing hymns, and laughing or crying as each family member shared their final moments with The Family Patriarch, surrounding him where he had been laid by his sons, they were given a beautiful gift. The family shared most of the day together in the home he and Julie had purchased together in the beautiful town of Centerville, Utah. Every member remained until his caretakers arrived. Each child, grandchild and great grandchild said goodbye in their own way. Kim’s sons were able to continue the Celebration of His Life that weekend in beautiful cozy cabins in the mountains of Idaho in Island Park under the stars, a final farewell to their Father.

The family suggests in lieu of flowers, donations be made to the Missionary Department of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

A viewing will be held on Monday, March 28, 2022 from 6:00 – 8:00 p.m. at Russon Mortuary, 295 N. Main Street, Bountiful, Utah with cremation to follow.