On Thursday, August 7, 2014, loving husband, father and friend Wesley E. Johnson passed away at 10:30 in morning at Utah Valley Specialty Hospital in Provo, Utah where he had been transferred last week for further acute medical care from the Cardiac ICU at Utah Valley Regional Medical Center.
Wes suffered a V fib heart attack in his Wellington home on July 5, 2014 where his wife Jean immediately started CPR calling 911. Although paramedics arrived on scene quickly, Wes suffered an Anoxic Brain Injury as well, due to lack of oxygen to his brain. He was transported by Life Flight from Castleview Hospital to UVRMC Cardiac ICU, in Provo, Utah. Wes’ wife and daughter were told that he would never wake up or recover due to severe brain damage and complications. Wes remained on life support for weeks before removing his breathing tube. We were told many times by several physicians that Wes would not recognize his wife or his family and that it was impossible to think or to expect him to come out of the coma, communicate, talk or breathe on his own again. And if by some miracle he did come out of the coma, he would not know his family, speak or have any quality of life and if he could breathe on his own, it would not be for very long.
Although hearing all the medical facts, and faced with more unsettling news and difficult decisions each day, his wife and children never gave up hope, faith, trust or prayer knowing Wes and his life is in God’s hands. After weeks at the hospital by the grace and the love of God our miracle did come, Wes did wake up for four days and he did recognize Jean, his wife of fifty years, and his first words to her expressed his love for her. He did recognize his daughter and his son and he did talk to us as well, knowing exactly what he did and did not want. And he laughed and cried with us and Wes even gave his nurses and physical therapists a hard time, joking and telling them what was on his mind Wes style. A defibulator device was then placed in his chest to prevent further defib heart failure, however Wes’ body was very tired and weak and he suffered respiratory arrest and failure two weeks later and passed last Thursday morning.
Wes is survived by his wife of fifty years, Jean M. Johnson of Wellington, Utah, his eldest Daughter and Son-In-law Debbie Jean and Raymond L. Nash of Wellington, Utah, his Daughter Loretta Lynn Johnson of Wendover, Utah, his Son and Daughter-In-Law Aaron Duane and DeLynn Johnson and Grandchildren TraVeck Johnson 15, and Dillon Johnson 11, all of Malad, Idaho, his Son Wesley E. Johnson Jr., his daughter Wanda Denise Johnson, his eldest grand daughter Amanda ‘Chantel’ Call-Leffler and great grandson Jonathon ‘Hunter’ Leffler 5, of Huntington, Utah, his grandson Aaron Johnson of Price, Utah.
Wes is preceded in death by his father and mother Wesley James Johnson and Rosalie McGowan- Johnson and two grandchildren Melissa Alleman and Maxwell Alleman.
Wes and Jean were blessed with five children, seventeen grand children and eleven great grand children.
Wes was born in Seffner, Florida on January 31, 1943. He grew up in Plant City, Florida where he met his wife Jean. As a young man, Wes loved rifle and bow hunting, fishing and working on his car. After graduating High School Wes served our country in the United States Marine Corps and then married the love of his life Jean. They loved taking their children bass fishing and to target practice together. Wes and Jean raised their four older children primarily in the Southern States before moving to Utah in 1977, where their fifth child and youngest son Aaron was born. Wes was employed by Savage Coal Services in Price, Utah for 30 years
Wes was a dedicated and loyal husband, father, friend and employee. He was a hard worker, determined to see everything he started to the finish and he gave his best in everything he did, and raised his children with the same strong ethics. Wes could repair, fix and rewire everything and enjoyed a simple home life with his wife and children. He was an avid reader, enjoyed old black and white westerns and movies, old gospel hymns and programs, country music oldies and NASCAR.
Wes you left us to go home much too soon and you are greatly missed. You will be in our thoughts and hearts every day until we are with you again. We will laugh and cry as we think of all the memories of you that we hold deep in our hearts.
I love you my Sweetheart of fifty years!
We love you our Father and Dad!
We love you friend!
To send condolences and view images visit www.LegacyFunerals.com