E. Dean Johnson
E. Dean Johnson, 73, of Independence, MO, passed away Tuesday June 28, 2005 at Independence Regional Health Center. Memorial services will be 2 p.m. Saturday July 9, 2005, at DW Newcomer's Sons Noland Rd Chapel. In lieu of flowers the family suggest contributions to the Western Missouri Shooters Alliance. Dean was born February 22, 1932 in Independence, MO to Edward Perry and Hilda Nadine (Griffin) Johnson. He was a veteran of the U.S. Navy serving in the Korean War. He graduated in 1965 from Murray Sate College, Murray, KY and taught Industrial Arts in Kansas City, KS for one year. He retired in February 1991 as a Civil Engineering Technician from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers where he worked with relocation needed for the Truman Dam and Reservoir. He was a member of the Western Missouri Shooters Alliance, Civil War Skirmish Association, American Legion Post #95 of Liberty, MO, National Rifle Association and the Boy Scouts of America. Survivors include his wife Sharon E. Johnson of the home; two sons, David D. Johnson of Orlando, FL and Perry E. Johnson of Independence, MO; a daughter, Jo Dean Johnson of Orlando, FL; two grandsons, Edward and Richard Johnson of Independence, MO.
The Star also has a Guest book that you can sign. The contents will be sent to Sharon, to leave an entry just go to:
http://www.legacy.com/kansascity/Guestbook.asp?Page=Guestbook&PersonID=14415083
From your Webmistress:
There are things that Dean would have considered important, things about his life that you will not be reading in the KC Star. My effort to honor Dean is a "Second Amendment Obituary". My information comes from his close friend and 2 AM buddy Gary Davis, from his Civil War history student and WMSA Board Member Larry Swickard, Kevin Jamison, Brad Alpert, Mark Purcell, WMSA Board Members and Sharon Johnson, his wonderful wife.
Dean spent part of his childhood in KY. on a farm. He grew up knowing that guns were quite useful for killing varmints and roaming the woods with his Cousins and Uncles. As a teenager he went hunting with them.
When Dean was in the Navy he discovered his love of the BAR (Browning Automatic Rifle) and he remained a BAR fan for the rest of his life.
While Dean worked at the US Army Corp of Engineers he would get into arguments with fellow employees who claimed they supported second amendment rights, but then actually did nothing to support them beyond talk. He felt if you believed that way, you ought to do something.
Doing something was Dean's forte. Dean became involved in the WMSA around 91, back when the organization was just a couple years old. He heard about it at a Gun show, when they were on Front Street. During the time Dean was involved in the WMSA he was our Newsletter coordinator. I guess he could also be classified as a Quartermaster. He would come up with the mailing labels, supplies and making donations of guns and his time. I understand he was very crafty at getting us supplies at reduced prices. Dean became very active during the Prop B. campaign and never looked back. Dean excelled at the political angle, he knew lots of people, and knew the people to get to know. When Jackson County had a chance to get out from under a Sheriff who doesn't actually know the law, he just enforces it, he brought John Bullard to meet the WMSA. He brought framed pictures of Daro and a framed article about John and Daro to our kennel to allow us to try to help, even though we don't live in Jackson County. We had our German Shepherd Sunny endorse Daro. Dean traveled all over for Gun rights, Pittsburg to Phoenix, Orlando FL. Dean worked countless Gun shows, with a smile and sense of humor. Often with Gary occupying the chair beside him. Like twins joined at the hip, often where you saw Dean, you saw Gary.
I never realized what an incredibly knowledgeable person Dean was about history. Larry said Dean spent time taking him around to battle sites in Missouri that were not even marked. You just had to know they were there. He could also tell you what occurred at each site. Larry says Dean really was a "Jack of all Trades", he also said he was a walking history book. He said he would always remember that day, going around Independence, learning and going to Dixon's Chili and Dean talking about what KC used to be like. He loved American history, but especially Missouri history. Larry said Dean was the only person he knows that was as "Gung Ho" as Kevin (Jamison) and Gary (Davis), always ready to go at the drop of a hat. He also liked to cook!
As a member of the 6th Missouri Infantry of Civil War Skirmishers he used a Rifle, Carbine and Navy Colt. He was one of the founders of the 6th Missouri.
His son Perry was a Commander in the Navy. Dean was very pleased that he followed in his footsteps and is also a shooter and collects as he can. They gave Perry's wife Judy a gun, and she works on her proficiency with it. He has also coached their two sons, on their marksmanship and that gave him great joy.
Dean believed in taking care
of his family, Sharon tells me that although she was not an avid shooter
that he made sure she got the training and obtained a license to carry
from Utah so that she could defend herself. He sponsored five other
family members to take the NRA Safety courses and interested two family
children to learn about Eddie Eagle, and one of the women got a
"Concealed Carry" permit from Florida where his was issued. He also
worked to promote and sell tickets to the Sedalia Friends of the NRA
Annual banquet.
I asked Sharon if Dean could pass on one bit of wisdom, or advice for us all, what would it be? She said Dean would have urged us to get them young, to teach kids, sponsor kids' groups. That this was very important, especially for city kids, that often don't have a way to learn the positive things about guns.
Dean was a wonderful man, a wonderful ally in the battle for second amendment rights and he will be very missed. Our hearts and prayers go out to Sharon and his family.
Memorial Service:
D.W. Newcomers located at 509 S. Noland Rd, Independence Mo. at 2 P.M. on July 9th.
You can leave an entry in Dean's WMSA Memory Book