Early Sunday morning, on January 7th, 2024, Neal David Johnson finished his earthly journey after living for 81 wonderful and adventure-filled years.
Born in Guntersville, Alabama on January 4th, 1943, Neal grew up in Arab, Alabama and lived in Marshall County most of his life. He graduated from Arab High School in 1961, where he played baseball and was a star quarterback on the football team. He met the love of his life, Linda Sartain Johnson, when he attended The University of Alabama. Neal received multiple degrees from UA throughout his life in Economics, Physical Education, and Special Education and was a proud alumnus of the University. He spent many years as an educator, teaching and coaching in Arab, Summerville, Georgia, Guntersville, and Union Grove. He influenced and encouraged many young men and women throughout his career as a teacher and as he coached football, basketball, and gymnastics. While he was teaching, he also served as the “color announcer” for Bill Yancy as they did the play by play for Guntersville football and basketball games on local radio. He spent the last 52 years living on Pine Island Point on the shores of his beloved Tennessee River, where he often skied and fished.
Neal was an avid outdoorsman who loved to fish and hunt. He was most at home in his boat on the water, traipsing through a field with a dog by his side, or in his recliner watching any Alabama team play any kind of sport. After he retired from teaching, he started a second successful career as a dog trainer and hunting guide. Many people sent their dogs to him from across the United States to be trained for hunting. Neal always had several bird dogs at any given time and he trained his treasured pointers and setters to accompany him as he took people hunting at Parches Cove Hunting Preserve and, later, at Dream Ranch. While he was a hunting guide, he took Gene Stallings and Pat Dye hunting, among many others. He and his dogs were also used as models by Mercedes Benz when they released their first SUVs and the ads were filmed at Parches Cove.
Neal and his wife Linda loved to travel and they went on many trips out West and to Alaska where he would hunt and fish while studying the history of the areas they visited. He loved an adventure and often went on hunting trips out West with hunting buddies as well. In later years, he enjoyed visiting Italy, Ireland, Grand Turk Island, and the British Isles with family.
Neal was also an avid historian and was especially interested in local and Civil War history. He often enjoyed volunteering at the Guntersville Historical Society and wrote several articles pertaining to local history for the Advertiser Gleam. Neal’s faith was important to him and he was a member of Grant First Baptist Church where he served as a deacon and volunteered for many years in Celebrate Recovery.
Neal was dedicated to his family and leaves behind one daughter, Jan Johnson Owen and her husband Matt Dennis, who was also a devoted caregiver to Neal. He is also survived by three grandchildren, Maria Owen (Paul Brosius), Philip Owen III, and Natalie Owen (Kayla Merritt) as well as one sister, Jane Johnson Mashburn (John), several nieces and many beloved cousins and extended family members and friends. He was preceded in death by his wife of 52 years, Linda Johnson, his parents, Roy and Gladys Johnson of Arab, one brother, Roy Wayne Johnson of Arab, and one son in law, Phil Owen, Jr. Neal loved his family well.
Friends may visit with the family at Arab Heritage Memorial Chapel on Wednesday, January 10th from 6-8 pm. A funeral service will be held on Thursday, January 11th with visitation at 12:00 and a service at 1:00 pm. Burial will follow in the Arab City Cemetery. Neal’s daughter, Jan Owen, will officiate accompanied by many beloved friends and family. Everyone is invited to wear Alabama shirts or crimson and white as Neal was a dedicated fan of the Crimson Tide. Following the burial, there will be a reception for family and friends at The Old Greenhouse. All are welcome to join and share treasured memories.
In lieu of flowers, the family encourages donations to be made to the Guntersville Historical Society by mailing donations to Guntersville Historical Society, P.O. Box 236, Guntersville, Alabama 35976 or to the Linda Johnson Math Scholarship Fund at KDS DAR High School at https://www.kdsdar.org/donate.
All arrangements entrusted to Arab Heritage Memorial Chapel, 1340 North Main Street
Arab, AL 35016.
