Jesse W. Johnson, Jr.'s Obituary
Jesse W. Johnson, Jr. passed away Friday, September 28, 2018, at the Gainesville VA Medical Center.
Jesse was born in Hamlet, NC on April 13, 1950. He is predeceased by his parents, J. Willard Johnson Sr. and Martha Kestner Johnson, and a brother, Steven W. Johnson; he is survived by his wife of 42 years, Claire Johnson, his daughters Danielle Johnson Sauder and Rachel E. Johnson, his sister Judy Johnson Brown, and sister-in-law Harriette Deas Johnson.
Jesse served in the US Navy as an air traffic controller during the end of the Vietnam War. He was discharged to Pensacola, Florida where he met his wife, Claire Paffe. After earning his bachelor’s degree in Chemistry, he worked in research at the Dairy Science Dept. at the University of Florida in Gainesville, Fl.
Jesse was taught music by his father, attended Florida State briefly in the Music program, and went on to create a local business in Gainesville, The By Ear Musician Studio. The Studio has just completed its twentieth year in Gainesville and continues under family management.
Jesse loved to teach with the motto “playing with feeling”. He was concerned that too many people were shut out of the music experience because they found note reading difficult; he persuaded as many as possible that “playing by ear” was the best and most natural way to achieve satisfaction with music. Music was the best thing in Jesse’s life for many years; he could play most any instrument and was a composer of over fifty songs. We hope and pray that his students will carry the blessing of his instruction with them – it is his legacy.
Funeral Services will be held Friday, October 5, 2018 at 10:30 a.m. at The Greenhouse Church, 11200 NW 39th Avenue, Gainesville. Burial with military honors will follow at 2:30 p.m. in San Lorenzo Cemetery, 1635 US 1 South, St. Augustine.
What’s your fondest memory of Jesse?
What’s a lesson you learned from Jesse?
Share a story where Jesse's kindness touched your heart.
Describe a day with Jesse you’ll never forget.
How did Jesse make you smile?