James Dexter Johnson passed from this life to the next on the afternoon of Wednesday, October 18, 2018 at his home, surrounded by family and friends. Born 9/14/1960 in Collins, Mississippi, Dexter was the long awaited first child of James E. and Euna Mae Simmons Johnson. He is preceded in death by his parents and father-in-law, Donald C. Vogler and brother in law, Donald C. Vogler, Jr. He is survived by his wife of 33 years, Stacy Vogler Johnson, son, James Clint Johnson, and daughter-in-law Torunn Stuen Johnson. He is also survived by two sisters, Linda Faith Johnson Perrewe (brother in law Jim, niece and nephew Chelsey and Chad) of Paducah and Patricia Hope Johnson Cardona (brother in law Joe, nephew Sam and nieces Casey and Christy) of Glen Ellyn, Illinois and one brother, Patrick Hilton Johnson (sister in law Kim, niece Samantha Lockhart, and niece and nephew Kattie Mae Johnson Koehler and Ethan Koehler) also of Paducah, KY. He is also survived by his mother in law, Helen Marberry Vogler, 3 sisters- and brothers- in law by marriage, 13 nieces and nephews of their respective families plus several aunts, uncles and cousins throughout southern Mississippi.
Dexter worked all of his adult life in the railroad contracting industry, founding the still in existence Track Tech, Inc. when he was 20 years old. He was an excellent slalom water skier and enjoyed owning many boats over the years. He captained several 16 day trips from his home port of Kentucky Lake to his second home port of Orange Beach, Alabama. He had committed interest in the stewardship of owning 200 acres of land in west Kentucky with managed hay and timber harvests, ponds, freshwater springs, and seasonal feeding stations for wildlife. For many years he enjoyed raising Limousin and Angus beef cattle and keeping several types of domestic and exotic birds. He was a licensed race car driver and enjoyed watching and attending Indy, Formula One and NASCAR races. He was a loyal supporter of several college basketball teams and attended many games in his RV with family and friends.
Dexter traveled around the world through Asia, India, Nepal, the Middle East, Italy, and France. For many years he spent time annually exploring the Caribbean. He watched the UK Wildcats compete twice in Maui, Hawaii and was fortunate to have also visited 28 other states.
After being officially diagnosed with ALS in June of 2012, Dexter became an advocate and adviser to everyone else he could that followed him in their diagnoses, including their families. He belonged to the Murray ALS Support Group and dearly loved and respected this extremely special group of friends.
He was committed to sharing his wealth and talents through charitable giving and most partial to anonymous giving. Refurbishing baseball fields and Sunday school rooms alike, instituting live-stream worship service video, sponsoring missions, children’s charities, basketball camps and hospice centers, his generosity earned him commission to the Kentucky Colonels.
Raised in the Baptist denomination, Dexter pledged membership to Broadway United Methodist Church in 1996 where he was a faithful, supportive, and beloved church family member. There he had a special affinity for the mission program of POPs (People with Overwhelming Possibilities), and for two hours, one night a month, five months a year, for seven years, he sponsored and attended second Tuesday fellowship, activity and meal for these special needs adults proclaiming them, “some of my very best friends.”
Memorial services will be held at 2pm Sunday, October 21, 2018 at Broadway United Methodist Church with Revs. Joe Beal and Lora Jean Gowan officiating. A visitation reception will immediately follow in Igert Hall. Private interment is planned for a later date.
Seating for the memorial service will begin at 1pm Sunday at the church.
Expressions of sympathy should be directed to the charity of your choice, Broadway United Methodist Church (701 Broadway, Paducah, KY 42001) or ALS Association Kentucky Chapter (8640 Haines Drive, Suite F, Florence, KY 41042).
You may leave a message of sympathy or light a memorial candle at www.milnerandorr.com.
