To Tom Johnson's Wonderful Family - My husband, Larry, and I had the good fortune to live next door to you in North Logan from 1985 - 1988. One of life's enduring lessons is that, however brief, the friendliness of others can touch your soul. In honor of your special dad, and mom, I share these memories.
In 1985, if you turned onto 1900 North, your house and ours both had old green trucks in the driveway. Though neither were handsome, your dad's was much better looking than ours. When we first moved next door to you from a more urban area, I watched Tommy and Jared running through the back yard playing deer and hunter. Tommy was the deer with a broken tree branch set of antlers on his head. I knew then that we weren't in the city any longer. During those hot Utah summers, you always had a great garden out back. What I remember most is the horseradish. One summer day, Tailona, was playing in the water in our front yard and accidentally left the hose on which slipped into the window well of our house. For a few hours, we had this nice little fish pond in the basement window which gradually drained away. Your mom was so apologetic, but we loved sweet little Tailona, and the incident still gives me a smile.
Lastly, when I read of your dad's passing (College of Education News Magazine), I pulled from the bookshelf of our Oregon home, a gift given to us years ago by your family. Inside the front cover is a photo of all of you - a beautiful family captured in time and in my memory. Below the photo your father has written, "As a family, we present to you our most cherished possession, The Book of Mormon." My best tribute to him is to close with his own words. "May God bless you in your efforts to read this sacred volume. It can change your entire life and eternity." Thomas S. Johnson
