Jack Johnson, beloved husband, father, brother, uncle and friend passed away on June 4, 2017 at the age of 85. He was born on February 21, 1932 in Mississippi to Eloise and Lemmie Johnson. Jack is survived by his wife, Gay, daughter and son-in-law, Nanette and Jack Bigus and son, Greg Johnson. Jack is preceded in death by his parents and eight of his siblings and is survived by his brother, Johnnie Johnson.

Jack moved to California where he met the love of his life, Gay Montanari. They were married in 1958 and moved to Madera a few years later. He helped his in-laws, Resto and Ada Montanari, open The Big Top Drive-In. He also worked for his brother-in-law, Al Martin, at the Valley Market, for Pepsi-Cola and later owned Jack’s Mobil Station. In 1983, Jack and Gay opened The Sub Shop and Deli which they ran until retirement. Jack and Gay catered numerous events including weekly lunches for FMC and the Soroptimist Club. After retiring, Jack worked part-time for Jay Chapel for several years.

Jack enjoyed meeting new people, talking with everyone and always had a joke to tell, or a laugh to share. He loved being a part of the Madera community and was a member and officer of the Jaycees through most of the 1960s and later joined the Breakfast Lions. Jack and Gay loved to RV with family and friends. Jack also loved to golf and was a weekend golfer. In the First Annual Madera Police Officers Assn golf tournament he hit his first and only hole-in-one and won a truck! In his later years, Jack took up bowling and enjoyed all his new friends in the Friday Senior league.

Jack and Gay moved to Phoenix in the fall of 2016 to be closer to their children.

Please join us for a memorial service and celebration of Jack’s life which will be held Friday, July 7th at 11:00 am at Jay Chapel. Remembrances may be given in lieu of flowers to The Madera Historical Society, P.O. Box 150, Madera, CA 93639 or the donor's favorite charity.

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