Obituary of Edwin Dean Johnson

EDWIN DEAN JOHNSON JR. On September 2, 009 Edwin Dean Johnson Jr., 61 of Northport, took his final ride on the “Highway to Heaven” racing alongside of his favorite Nascar driver, Dale Earnhardt, Sr. who reached the finish line just a little ahead of him. He was surrounded by his family at the time of his passing at EMMC. Junior, as he was known to most, was born in Monroe on January 31, 1948, the son of Beatrice (Smith) and Edwin Dean Johnson Sr. He attended school in Monroe where he lived for most of his life. Jr. had an extraordinary knowledge of automobiles, formerly running a business in Monroe, “Johnson’s Used Cars & Parts”. If you needed a car or parts, he could find it for you even right up to the last few months of his life. He had the unique ability to drive down a road he had never been down before and “sniff out” a car hidden in the woods. You’d be riding somewhere and all of a sudden the brakes would come on and he’d back up saying “there’s a car back there I got to check out”. Most other people would not have been able to see it. He was a former stock car driver, mostly at Maine and New Hampshire tracks and was seriously injured at Oxford at a very young age. He was like a cat with nine lives. Jr. loved to talk, especially on the phone. You knew if it was him calling, you’d better be prepared to spend awhile on it. He was a story teller and quite entertaining. In his younger years, he loved hunting with his best buddies, Byron, Brian, Johnny and others. He loved to fish, snowmobile, go camping, more recently in the Greenville area, with his dear partner of 19 years, Anne. He was a former ambulance attendant for the Brooks Ambulance Service. He loved to work with wood and in recent years made craft items to sell at craft fairs, etc. He was a member of Mainely Street Rods and also Street Rodders of Maine during which time he and Anne made many new friends who have meant a lot to them. Jr. even drove his 1932 Nash street rod to North Carolina during March of 1997 to attend a street rod show. He helped many of his friends with building their rods with his vast knowledge of vehicles. He and Anne traveled 182,000 miles in the Nash in about 12 years. He was formerly employed at local area poultry plants, ITO in Searsport, Greenpoint Auto Parts, Pooler’s Wrecker Service, Riverside Auto Parts and other places as well. He also worked in the woods delivering to many paper mills throughout Maine and plowed many driveways over the years. Jr. had a great love for children, and they all took to him as well as a special love for his cats and dogs. He attended Brooks Bible Church and had a deep belief in Jesus as his personal Saviour and refuge and was spiritually prepared for this event. Junior was predeceased by his parents, his loving Aunt Adelia Grover whom he absolutely adored; his stepson, Nathan Carter formerly of Swanville and his dear friend Byron Maddocks on Monroe. He is survived by his partner of 19 years, Anne Millington; his son Edwin Dean Johnson III of Belfast and lovely wife Melissa “Missy” Johnson; his step-daughter Tina Herrick and her husband Tracey of Lincolnville; his stepson Woody Carter of Morrill as well as his extended family Jolana Millington Bean and husband Ralph of Searsport, Ted Millington and his fiancée Sue Allard and daughter Michelle of Windham; grandchildren Kaitlyn Marie Johnson, Edwin Dean Johnson IV of Belfast, Christopher Ray of Lincolnville, Ashley Ray of Bangor, Sheena Carter of Belfast, Miles Carter of Swanville, Shaina Curtis Fletcher and husband Jason of Belfast, Austin and Devon Bean of Searsport. He is also survived by a former son-in-law, aunts, cousins and extended family members that include brothers and sisters-in-law, nieces, nephews as well as very close friends, especially Brian Maddocks, Myron and Vi Hanson and their family and his cat “Chevy”. Junior was a gentle giant and will be extremely missed by all who knew him. The family extends their sincere thanks to the nursing and professional staff at EMMC in Bangor and Harbor Hill Nursing Home in Belfast for their loving care. Thanks to Nancy Maddocks for her generosity and to the pallbearers. A viewing and funeral service was held at Crabiel-Riposta Funeral Home in Belfast on September 4th. Special thanks to Pastor Thompson and Donald Ramsey, Lay Pastor who officiated. Interment followed at Kenney Cemetery. A celebration of life will be held on Saturday, September 12th at 3:30 at Midcoast Christian Fellowship, Patterson Hill Road, Belfast which will include a barbecue. Friends and relatives are encouraged to bring a salad, casserole, dessert, etc. to share as well as their fond remembrances of Junior. For more information, please call Edwin at 338-6179. On-line condolences may be placed at www.crabielripostafuneralhome.com.