Roy L. Johnson

Born on July 20, 1928, Roy Johnson lived 90 happy years. When he was young, his family moved around Alabama and Georgia as his father worked at different manufacturing jobs during the Great Depression. Eventually the family settled in Opelika, AL where Roy would live his whole adult life.

It was during those lean Depression years that Roy learned the importance of ingenuity and hard work. He and his family made extra money by filling community needs: raising vegetables, repairing automobiles and machinery, and importing fruits and goods from other states (including, rumor has it, moonshine). Roy would parlay these experiences into success as an adult and become known as someone who could build anything, and fix anything. 

As a young man, Roy went to trade school and learned all about machinery. Soon he became the glue that held the Pepperell plant in Opelika together (for over 35 years). Roy would build a mobile home community that created homes for dozens of families. He built six houses, renovated dozens of rooms, and made countless repairs for family and friends. Roy even built a 30-foot seaworthy fiberglass fishing boat that he named Forever (because that is how long his beloved wife Imogene said it would take him to build it). 

However, the most important accomplishment Roy made was the positive affect he had on the lives of the people who loved him. While growing up, Roy helped look after his sister, Chris and younger brothers, Gary and Roger. Roy would find the love of his life, Imogene Guy, in Opelika and marry her. They were happily married for over 50 years. Together they had a daughter, Myra whom Roy loved and spoiled rotten. He also loved and spoiled his grandchildren, Tracy Mountain and Jim Garrett, their spouses Randy and Elaine, and his great-grandchildren Rylee, Kara, Ellie, and James.

Roy Johnson will always be remembered by those who love him. He will be remembered for his work ethic, his love of family, and his love of debate. He will be remembered for his stubbornness, his dark hair, and for always looking much younger than he really was. He will be remembered for his love of breakfast, coffee, seafood, shrimp, fresh vegetables, and brunswick stew. He will be remembered for his love of fishing, his opinionated nature, and love of his poodles (Missy, Nikita, Cody, Kady, and Rusty). Most of all, Roy Johnson will be remembered for being a wonderful son, brother, husband, father, and grandfather. He will be missed.

Funeral Service for Mr. Johnson will be held on Friday, September 21, 2018 at 11:00 a.m., in the Jeffcoat-Trant Funeral Home Chapel. Visitation services will be held one hour prior to the service on Friday, as well as on Thursday, September 20, 2018 from 6:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m., at Jeffcoat-Trant Funeral Home. Interment will follow at Garden Hills Cemetery. Reverend Billy Clark is officiating.