Morris Johnson

]Morris Carter Johnson, 77, of South Pasadena, Florida, passed away on Tuesday afternoon, February 7, 2012, at the Suncoast Hospice House - Woodside. Born on January 9, 1935, to parents Morris Herbert and Ethel Mae Johnson, he lived Conshohocken, Pennsylvania until his graduation in 1952 from Conshohocken High School. As a young man, he combined a love of music with his talent as a trombone player founding "The Blue Velveteers", a 17-piece dance ensemble. Mr. Johnson attended the Naval Academy Preparatory School in Annapolis, Maryland and served in the U.S. Marine Corps from 1953 through 1956. In 1955, he married his first wife, Dorothy Anne Lewis of Norristown, Pennsylvania. He continued his education at the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, graduating with a Bachelor of Science degree in Physics in 1960. On March 2, 1967, he married his second wife, Barbara Maxine Crane of Rome, Georgia. In a career spanning four decades, Mr. Johnson served as a civilian engineer and logistics expert with the U.S. Department of Defense with numerous foreign and domestic assignments. During his career, Mr. Johnson and his family resided in Fort Walton Beach, Florida, Bowie, Maryland, Salt Lake City, Utah, Bel Air, Maryland, Davenport, Iowa, Geneseo, Illinois, and Boiling Springs, Pennsylvania. In 1984, as one of only two civilian appointees, Mr. Johnson graduated from the U.S. Army War College in Carlisle, Pennsylvania. In 1988, he retired from his final posting with the U.S. Army as Deputy Commander of the New Cumberland Army Depot in New Cumberland, Pennsylvania to Bayonet Point, Florida where he was employed by the Pall Corporation prior to retiring permanently in 1999. Avid golfers and beachcombers, Mr. Johnson and wife Barbara also enjoyed many hours as partners playing bridge during their 44 years of marriage. He and his wife shared a keen interest in American history, which they fostered with their children through many family trips to historic landmarks throughout the United States. Morris was an enthusiastic numismatist sharing his love of coin collecting with all of his children and grandchildren. In addition, as the family historian, he developed a great interest in genealogy devoting countless hours to the documentation of the family's ancestry. Morris is preceded in death by his parents, and younger brother, Charles Johnson. He is survived by wife, Barbara Crane Johnson, sister, Helen Johnson Sunday, daughters Jenifer Slocum of Gulfport, Florida and Cynthia Glover of Fairfield, Connecticut, and son Jeff Johnson of Round Rock, Texas, as well as sons-in-law Donald Slocum and Ronald Glover and daughter-in-law Lisa Johnson. He is also survived by four grandchildren: Brenton Glassgen, Nicole Slocum, and Taylor and Addison Johnson. Our father will be deeply missed. Arrangements are being handled by David C. Gross Funeral Home and Cremation Center of St. Petersburg, Florida. The family will conduct memorial remembrances in the Goodwin Chapel at Pasadena Community Church on Saturday, February 11 at 10:30am. In lieu of flowers, should friends desire, contributions may be sent to the Suncoast Hospice House - Woodside 6770 102nd Avenue North, Pinellas Park, Florida 33782. David C. Gross Funeral Homes, Central Avenue Chapel in St. Petersburg is serving the family Service Information