Terry Arthur Johnson's Obituary
Terry was born in Sycamore, Illinois to Phillip Arthur Johnson and Eurith Melvine (Williams) Johnson. Terry moved to Phoenix, Arizona with his family when he was 3 years old and lived in Arizona for the rest of his life.
He is survived by his wife, Robin Ann Hall, his children Nicole Danielle Johnson (Garrett Horrocks) and Blake Robert Johnson, his granddaughter Fiona Margaret Horrocks, his step-children Hannah Lilac Merrill and Ryland Frederick Merrill, his elder brother Stephen Arlie Johnson (Judith), his half-brother Phillip Arthur Johnson Jr. (Melinda) his half-sister Christina Walters Paradis (Brian), his Brother-in-Law David A. Hall (Jean) of Woodland, Maine, and many nieces and nephews. His siblings Karen Hines-Roberts and Norman P. Johnson predeceased him.
Terry was in the army from 1976 to 1979 and was stationed in Baumholder, W. Germany while Jimmy Carter was President.
Terry lived for many years in Clifton, Arizona, and worked for 30 years for Freeport McMoRan at their mine in Morenci, Arizona. He started his career as a surveyor and then as supervisor to the surveyors. He also did snake rescue and snake education at the mine.
On May 4, 2018, Terry met Robin Ann Hall, the love of his life. It was the first hug and later kiss that started a magical fairy-tale romance between Robin and Terry. They commuted back and forth between Tucson and Clifton for almost 2 years until Terry could retire.
Terry retired from the mine on 02/02/2020 and moved to Tucson to live with his sweetheart Robin, where he resided with her for the remainder of his life. They were married on August 4, 2024.
Terry loved hanging out with the family, herping, hiking, camping, backpacking, birding, driving back roads, spending time in nature, gardening, playing music, collecting rocks, minerals, mushrooms and spending time with Robin and their Maine family at their cabin in Woodland, Maine, which Robin and her brother David had built together during the last 5 years.
Terry was a champion for snakes, lizards and all other critters. For many years he did volunteer snake rescue for the Morenci-Clifton area. He had many snakes and other reptiles in his collection when he lived in both Clifton and Tucson.
At the May 20, 2024 meeting of the Tucson Herpetological Society Terry was presented with the following awards:
• Tucson Herpetological Society award for his dedication to herpetological outreach in the State of Arizona. For over 40 years Terry has enlightened and endeared people of all ages to the beauty and importance of reptiles and amphibians – especially through his job in mining and as an engineering supervisor in eastern Arizona, co-founder of Friends of the Frisco, and professional consulting and reptile relocation through his Reptile Conservation service.
• Advocates for Snake Preservation Snake Hero Award for his unwavering commitment to community engagement in rural southern Arizona. In an area overlooked by other educators, Terry inspired myriad folks to care about snakes.
A celebration of life will be held on December 8, 2024 at 11:00 a.m. 10206 E. Placita Cresta Mia, Tucson, AZ 85749. Please bring drums, instruments and voices to make a joyful noise to send Terry on his way. We hope you will share your music with us all. The celebration will also be available via zoom. Please contact Robin at [email protected] or Paul at [email protected] for the link.
For contributions in Terry’s memory, please donate to Advocates for Snake Preservation (ASP). ASP is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to changing the way people view and treat snakes. ASP officially launched an Endangered Species Day (May 16) in 2014.. Contributions are tax-deductible as allowed by law. Please make contributions by mail to Advocates for Snake Preservation, P.O. Box 2752, Silver City, N.M 88062 or use the following link for on-line donations:
https://www.every.org/snakes?donateTo=snakes#/donate/card
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