Matthew Johnson


It has been said by many that Matt was truly a man without guile.  A man who was constantly sharing his passions and a loving kind friend to all. He passed away January 27th, 2021 at 9:44am, re- joining his sweet son Reggie who passed away 8 years ago.
Born October 10th, 1980, in Salt Lake City Utah he is survived by his wife Jennie Marie, his son Ryan, and his beautiful child on the way, ( parents ) Stephen Craig and Beth Myers Johnson, ( Jennie’s parents ) Kay Haynes and Frank Davidson, ( Jennie’s sisters ) Rachel Crook, and Tracie Davidson, ( grandparents ) Kent and Cheri Myers, ( siblings ) brother, Jared Stephen Johnson ( wife Nancy ) sister, Kylee Rampton ( husband David ) brother, Luke Kent Johnson ( wife Mackenzie ) sister, Cheri Christensen ( husband Russ ). Deceased include, Grandparents Edgar Lamar and Regina Craig Johnson and Matt and Jennie’s son Reggie.
Matt spent his first years growing up in West Jordan Utah. He moved to Murray, Utah at the age of fourteen where he graduated from Murray High School.  He loved driving his friends in the old Oldsmobile and suiting up for the Spartans football Team. He was a good sized guy and played on the line. On one occasion his coach said to him, “Matt you’re so nice I’m afraid you’ll get hurt.” Matt’s response was, “Coach, I will never quit.” And he didn’t.
Matt was a very spiritual person who was constantly sharing his faith in and a love for Heavenly Father and His Son, Jesus Christ. He dearly loved his wife Jennie. She would often say, “He is the one who really gets me. He is my closest friend and I can share everything with him. He is my soulmate. Those big Matt hugs, the words of comfort.” Matt would always say to Jennie, “It’s going to be ok,” and it would be.
Next to Jennie, His sons were his precious possession. When dear Matt lost his son Reggie at birth he was broken hearted but was quoted to say, “I know I will be his daddy someday.” When the second gift blessed Matt’s life, little Ryan, he quickly stole his heart. Oh how proud he was to be a father. He loved taking his boy to church, family activities, to Jazz games and BYU games both sporting the newest gear with big grins on their faces.
From the time Matt was young he loved sports.  Day after day he would shoot hoops in the back yard launching 3’s. He would organize pick-up games with his neighborhood buddies all dressed up in the latest Jazz gear and high tops. He would blow his whistle for time outs, guzzling Gatorade, then back to business. He was Cougar blue through and through. It didn’t matter, win or lose, his faith was never shaken. He knew the boys would make a come-back. It didn’t matter where the next football game was, he was going to be there. From Norte Dame to Michigan, to Oklahoma to USC, no game was too far away. One of his finest moments was at 5 years old when he was Karl Malones ball boy. That picture remains on his wall after all these years.
Whatever Matt started he would finish, with the help of his devoted mother. She helped him learn to read, earn his Eagle Scout award, duty to God award, and prepared him to serve an honorable mission in the Oklahoma Mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. He was sealed to the love of his life Jennie in the Arizona Temple where they were sealed for time and all Eternity. This he knew to be true.
Matt’s love for sports led him to work almost 17 years in the Broadcasting industry for Simmons Media and for Broadway Media as a promotion and technical coordination manager. His favorite part of his broadcasting job was working for 1280the zone and ESPN 700. The past few years it was his great honor to work for UTA. A position he also loved.
Matt will be remembered as a kind, gentle, loving, sweet, and generous man who will be greatly missed. The text messages he would send by the minute, the pictures, the tweets, and all the phone calls will leave a hole in our lives. The one who was mostly always up, and rarely down, bringing smiles and cheer and devotion to every gathering. He is so loved and was loved in return by his friends.  He loved his 10 nieces and nephews and words cannot describe the love he had for his brothers and sisters.
The family wishes to thank everyone for their messages and gestures of love, concern, and support. We are so grateful for the wonderful doctors, nurses, and helpers at St. Mark’s Hospital. They are angels who risk their very lives to save the lives of others.
The funeral services will be held via zoom Tuesday, February 2nd, at 10:30am in the morning. If you would like to participate via zoom, here is the link: https://zoom.us/j/8012981564
or https://zoom.us/j/8015661249