Owen Johnson's Obituary
Owen Glen Johnson, 71 of Gainesville, passed away peacefully surrounded by his family on Saturday April 23, 2022.
He was born in Ocala Fl. January 24th 1951 to Nita Olene Davis and Owen Glen Johnson. He would become the son of Billy Bright Hughes and Olene Hughes in December of 1959 and move to Orange Heights and attended and graduate from Hawthorne High School, where his love for athletics would flourish. He played varsity football starting in the 7th grade which at that time it was 6-man football. Owen affectionately known as MooMoo or Mooter by his high school classmates and friends, ran track, played basketball and running back for the Hornets.
After graduation and in the anticipation of his first child, he would begin a career at Clay Electric and would return to the football field in 1971 as a coach for peewee football at the Boys Club of Gainesville located then off Waldo Road. He would make the move to the Northwest Boys club where he coached from 1971 to 1995 where he would acquire the name of Coach O.J. 1996 he would finally realize a childhood dream and retire from Clay Electric and join the Coaching Staff of the Buchholz Bobcats. Owen would coach football and girls’ softball at Buchholz from 1996 to 2019.
Owen will be remembered for his love of family, friends, sports and laughter. There are countless stories of heroics and hard work as he helped restore electricity and lights in the wave of storms as a lineman, comical stories of his approach to life and fun on the sidelines and just an overall love and appreciation for those fortunate for him to enter their lives.
He is survived by his wife Peggy Lee Meaders Johnson, children Chad (Angela) Johnson, Robyn (Barry) Keys; Graham (Carla) Johnson; Allison Meaders; Amanda Meaders. Sisters Janet (Brett) McMillan; Vicki (Ivan) Thompson; Susan Hughes Thompson. Grandchildren Tyler Johnson, Quin Johnson, Bryden Johnson, Maddilyn Johnson, Garrett Keys, Darrien Keys, Chloe Johnson, Griffin Johnson, Jake Johnson, and Rose Costa, and many cherished nieces’ nephews and cousins.
A celebration of Owen’s life will be held Friday, April 29, 2022 from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. at the 5701 Venue formerly known as Senior Recreation Center, 5701 NW 34th Blvd., Gainesville. There will be a time of remembrance at 6:00 p.m. followed by fellowship with the family and friends from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m., dinner will be provided. Please wear your favorite beach attire. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Buchholz High School, Attn: Kaye Marinoff, 5510 NW 27th Ave. Gainesville, FL 32606. Please note football or softball in your donation.
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