Larry Wayne Johnson, Olathe, Kansas, unexpectedly and prematurely passed January 6th, as a result of being a victim of a tragic car accident while he was vacationing in Florida with his family.  He was blessed to spend the previous week having fun with family, and final few days with his wife and children by his bedside.  He never regained consciousness and they were consoled knowing he was viewing the scene from above.  The photo above, his last, was taken at lunch on a Florida pier on New Year’s Eve Day, 2021.  Not having any identification for him upon his arrival in ICU the night of accident, the nurses told the family they sincerely guessed his age to be about fifty-five.  

Although he was taken far too soon, Larry enjoyed a rich life surrounded by family and friends that he loved dearly. 

He was born the oldest of three to Mildred (Harpster) and Darrell C. Johnson and on June 21, 1946, in the Missouri Ozark town of Mountain Grove.  His ethics were also instilled by his beloved, maternal grandmother Elsie with whom he and his oldest sister resided during their high school years.

Growing up, Larry had an interest in cars and fireworks.  Being an entrepreneur even at fifteen, he invested in wholesale fireworks to sell at a stand but accidentally set the entire investment on fire. He only recovered his investment on that venture with no profit.  He would describe the incredible display of lights and booms which was a story he often told with a smile around the Fourth of July. He also developed an interest in cars during his youth, and took great pride in taking care of his automobiles. 

After high school, he moved to the Kansas City area for employment.  It was during this period that he met some of his life long friends who he spoke to almost daily until his passing.  

Larry met and quickly fell in love with his wife Joyce in November 1971.  On Christmas Day that year, he raced back from his out of town family Christmas gathering early in the morning to take Joyce to her first professional football game which still stands as the longest overtime game in football history. This memory was often recalled by them both and especially Larry because it was the day he realized he wanted to spend the rest of his life with her, and remembered precisely what she chose to wear that day. They were married September 1, 1972, and would have celebrated their 50th anniversary this year.  Their relationship has been described as peas and carrots and a love many would envy.

Larry and Joyce had two children, Leslie Johnson-Harkness and Christopher Johnson.  The couple raised their children in the Johnson County area of Lenexa and later Cedar Creek, Olathe.  Larry instilled a strong work ethic in his children and sat an excellent example for them.    

He had a gifted mind and driven desire to build a beautiful, privileged life for his family.  He was an entrepreneur and built a very successful manufacturers’ representative business, Motion Products, Inc., and represented an impressive list of some of the nation’s largest power transmission manufacturers. Larry had the reputation of being a problem solver, devoted to his clients and the person you contacted to get things done.

In business, Larry continued to make lifelong friends with whom he shared a mutual respect and friendship over many years.  

The two of them had travelled extensively and then later took many adventures traveling in the United States along with their beloved, devoted Bentley, the Sheltie. Throughout his later life he enjoyed spending time with these friends and traveling with Joyce and pursuing his hobby of collecting fine wine.  Larry was a huge animal lover, and Bentley was his favorite dog.  Bentley is surely wagging his tail to see his dad again in heaven.  

Larry was also a devoted grandfather who spent time with his grandkids weekly.  He was always willing to take his oldest grandson to lunch, or shooting guns, or just hang out with his grandkids.  And they loved him dearly.  In fact, when he passed he was on his way to get fishing bait so the grandkids could fish off the Florida docks.  His big grin, kindness and generosity will be greatly missed and so difficult to endure.

Surviving are his wife, Joyce, their daughter, Leslie Harkness (David), and son, Chris Johnson (Megan) along with five beautiful and beloved grandchildren, Henrietta and Salem Johnson, Greta and Grayson Harkness and Bo Higgins.  

Larry will be so very, very missed by us all but we know he is looking over us.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a contribution to Holy Trinity Catholic Church, Lenexa, KS.

A Private family Funeral Mass will be held at Holy Trinity Catholic Church, Lenexa, KS. Burial will be at the Mt. Olivet Cemetery, Green City, MO