Jonathan Edwin Johnson

Jonathan Edwin Johnson II
1936 – 2013

Jonathan Edwin Johnson II, beloved husband, father, grandfather and brother, died peacefully on December 7, 2013 at his home in Los Angeles, California, at the age of 77 after a two-year battle with leukemia.

The eldest of three children, Jonathan was born in Whittier, California on May 1, 1936 to Roger Edwin Johnson and Louise Thompson Johnson. In 1944, he moved with his family to Washington, D.C. where he matriculated at St. Albans School.

Jonathan attended Cornell University where he was a member of the Sigma Chi fraternity and received a bachelor's degree in chemical engineering and a master of business administration. In 1963, he received a juris doctorate from the George Washington University Law School.

At the end of his first year of law school, Jonathan joined The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He remained an active member of the Church, holding many callings, including bishop of both the USC and Westwood First wards in Los Angeles.

On June 21, 1964, Jonathan married Clare Hardy in the Salt Lake Temple. They established their home and raised eight sons in Los Angeles until Clare's death in 1995. Five years later, Jonathan met and on June 17, 2000, married Garnet Mantor, the mother of five adult children.

Jonathan was a distinguished attorney in 50 years of practice, specializing in family law and active in the family law bar. He enjoyed daily exercise and formed lasting friendships with his fellow runners and speed walkers. A knowledgeable sports fan, Jonathan could cite the batting averages of Washington Senators of his youth or discuss the current Southern California prep football recruiting class.

Jonathan was a consummate gentleman, genuinely interested in all. He touched many lives for good and is deeply respected by his peers. He is loved and admired by his family, each of whom is honored to share his Johnson name.

Jonathan is predeceased by his parents and his wife Clare. Jonathan is survived by his wife Garnet, his sisters Amelia (Lynn Alexander) and Willa, his eight sons Jonathan III (Courtney), Hardy (Randi), Benjamin (Sariah), Adam, Rufus (Juliet), Bradford (Cynthia), Roger and Ralph (Elisa), his 19 grandchildren, Garnet's five children Jack (Larisa), Richard (Cynthia), Teresa, Brian (Melissa) and Jared (Bry), and Garnet's eight grandchildren.

Funeral services will be held Saturday, December 14, 2013 at 11:00 a.m. at the Westwood Ward building located at 10740 Ohio Avenue, Los Angeles, California. Friends are invited to visit with the family at the ward building on Saturday morning from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. prior to the service. Interment will be at Forest Lawn Hollywood Hills.