Mike Johnson, 56, of Sheffield, died Friday, July 20, 2012. Visitation will be 11:30-2:00 on Monday, July 23, 2012 with the funeral to follow at 2:00 p.m. at the Launch Point Church. Burial will be at Oakwood Cemetery in Sheffield. Bro Shane Swinney will officiate. He was a native of Moulton but was a 34 year resident of Sheffield, a member of Launch Point Church and worked in sales for 25 years, most of which were spent at Nelda Stephenson. Mike loved baseball and was very active in local youth baseball as a coach and mentor. He was a travel baseball pioneer in the Shoals area with the North Alabama Sharks, an organization he started with Ronnie Bowling about 11 years ago. He served as the Regional Director for USSSA baseball and coached the Sharks to a couple of USSSA World Series titles. The 28 former team members currently on college or junior college rosters is a testament to Mike’s devotion to developing young athletes. Mr. Johnson is preceded in death by his parents, Kenneth R. and Shirley Johnson. Survivors include his wife, Jenny Johnson of Sheffield; son, Michael Dylan Johnson; mother, Barbara Engberg and husband Ed of Satellite Beach, FL; brothers, Alan Engberg and wife Kitty of Decatur and Kevin Johnson and wife Karen of Moulton; sisters, Kelly Boothe and husband Drexel of Fairhope, Kathy Graham and husband Matt of Moulton, and Kim Christy and husband Scott of Moulton; and several nieces and nephews. Pallbearers will be Earl Clark, David Elliott, Randy Hill, Michael Eastman, Tim Lindsey, and Brian Munger. Honorary pallbearers will be Ronnie Bowling and Jay Johnson.
