John Michael Johnston, 74, passed away peacefully on Aug. 3, 2026, surrounded by his children.
Born on Oct. 11, 1951, in Newton, Iowa, John was the son of the late John D. “Jack” Johnston and Ann Campbell Johnston.
During his childhood, John’s family moved frequently before eventually settling in Johnson City, Tennessee, where he graduated from Science Hill High School.
While attending East Tennessee State University, John met the love of his life, Sharon Jane Cox. They were married on May 15, 1976, and shared nearly 47 years together before Sharon’s passing in 2023. Together, they raised three children in Greer, South Carolina, where John built a successful career in finance and retired from Bausch & Lomb after 28 years of service.
An avid outdoorsman, John loved hunting and fishing and was always tinkering with a project. He rarely missed an opportunity to talk sports and remained a devoted fan of the Iowa Hawkeyes and the Cleveland Indians, faithfully supporting his teams through every season.
John is survived by his daughters, Joann Johnston (Adam Humphreys) and Jama Johnston (Andrew Blevins); his son, John Matthew Johnston; and his grandchildren, Morrison Blevins and Penelope Blevins. He is also survived by his sister, Darby Johnston Seibert; and his brothers, Scott Johnston (Tammy), Mark Johnston (Elaine), Jim Johnston (Kim) and Bob Johnston (Rhonda).
John spent his final years in Charlotte, North Carolina, proudly watching Morrison and Penelope grow, attending their sporting events and having them over for bingo. To Morrison and Penelope, he was more than a grandfather; he was simply the world’s best Poppy.
The family will gather to celebrate John’s life in Greeneville, Tennessee, Sharon’s hometown, on Saturday, Sept. 12, 2026. A service will be held at 11 a.m. at Doughty-Stevens Funeral Home, 1125 Tusculum Boulevard, Greeneville, TN 37745. Following the celebration, his ashes will be scattered alongside his beloved Sharon’s, fulfilling his wish to be reunited with her once again.
Memorial donations may be made in John’s memory to The Ivey Parkinson’s Power Program, 6030 Park South Drive, Charlotte, North Carolina 28210, or the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research, P.O. Box 5014, Hagerstown, MD 21741.
