Arnold Johnson

Arnold Boyd Johnson, 76, of Oakdale, TN, passed away on Thursday, June 23, 2016 at his home. He was born on September 20, 1939. Arnold, often known as "Big Arnold," was a hardworking, devoted husband, father, and grandfather. He was a longtime member of the Oakdale United Methodist Church, a volunteer with the Oakdale Volunteer Fire Department, and an adult leader with Morgan County 4-H. A lifelong carpenter, he worked for local construction companies, building many restaurants, offices, banks, and houses in the East Tennessee area, retiring as a construction superintendent after 30+ years with R.H. Sinclair Construction Company of Knoxville, TN. He loved drinking coffee, telling jokes, watching westerns, working with his hands, fixing anything with a motora�"a regular jack of all trades. In his retirement, Arnold could be found trading cars at Highway 29A Motors or talking to his friends at Goldston's Gulf.
Arnold was preceded in death by his father, Boyd Johnson; mother, Pearl Smiley Johnson; brothers, Edgar, Millard, and Mitchell Johnson; sister, Irene Walls; sister-in-law, Faye Johnson; and brother-in-law, Boyd Laymance. On his wife's side, he is preceded in death by his mother-in-law, Marie Reynolds; father-in-law, Clarence Reynolds; and brothers-in-law, Clarence Reynolds, Jr. and Don L. Reynolds; and sisters-in-law, Carolyn Goad and Patricia Reynolds.
Arnold is survived by his loving wife of 49 years, Betty Jane Reynolds Johnson; daughter, Elizabeth James and son-in-law, Leslie of Maryville; son, Arnold Johnson, Jr. of Oakdale; daughter, Angela Johnson of Oakdale; daughter, Janice J. Brown of Knoxville; daughter, Julie Crowe and son-in-law, Justin of Knoxville; grandsons, Justin Johnson of Oakdale, and Bradley and Samuel Johnson of Knoxville. He is also survived by his sister, Paulene Laymance of Wartburg; his brother, Lester Johnson and sister-in-law, Gayle of Rockwood; brothers, Leonard Johnson of Kingston and Johnny Johnson of Harriman; and sister-in-law, Martha Johnson of Oakdale; on his wife's side, his in-laws, Nellie Reynolds, Joseph Reynolds, William and Angie Reynolds, and Julie McGill of Oakdale, Mary and Jim Fitzpatrick of Las Vegas, NV, Lee Roy and Rita Reynolds of Coalfield, and Karen Jackson of Brookville, OH. Also surviving, is a special niece Victoria Nelson, many other nieces, nephews, great nieces, and great nephews, and close friends Bill and Jane Norris, Ricky and Julia Comer.
The family will receive friends on Sunday, June 26, 2016 from 5:00 - 7:00 p.m. at Schubert Funeral Home in Wartburg, TN. Funeral services will follow at 7:00 p.m. with Pastor Tom Robins of the Oakdale United Methodist Church officiating. Graveside will be held at the Reynolds Family Cemetery in Oakdale, TN on Monday, June 27, 2016 at 11:00 a.m. The family suggests memorial contributions be sent to the UT Extension - Morgan County 4-H Program.