Peter Charles Johnson

St. George - Peter Charles Johnson, age 71, left this life on March 24th, 2021 at St. George Regional Hospital, St. George, Utah after a brief but brutal battle with lung cancer.



Known by many throughout his life as "Pete" or "PJ" he was known to Teri as Peter and to his sons as "Dad-Dude" or simply Dad.



Peter was born on May 1st, 1949, in London, England to Norman Charles Johnson and Doris Irene Baldwin. He was preceded in death by his sister, Jeanette Stansell and is survived by his sister Margaret (John) Bowdery.



In England, Peter was married to Jacqueline Anne Rayman in 1971. This marriage resulted in two great sons: Andrew (Amy) and Daniel (Mel).



Peter had many jobs when he was growing up and was a man who could turn his hand to almost anything. This was apparent in one of his first jobs as an apprentice French Polisher. A skill that he loved and carried on throughout his life.



He later worked as a mechanic for the police service, where he honed his "do anything" skillset.



Peter's primary career for 37 years was with the Kent Ambulance Service. Based out of Thameside, formally Northfleet Ambulance Station, he once held the record for the most twin baby deliveries!



As one of the first people in Kent to undertake training in how to use a defibrillator, Peter was passionate about being the best he could be. This passion lead to him saving more lives and being there for more people in their hour of need than is possibly imaginable.



When not busy, he and his partners were quick to pull a prank, especially with his last partner and friend, Martin Oliver. The stories he could tell...  Peter proudly mentored many men and women joining the ambulance crew, so it was with reluctance, after an injury on the job that left him with a broken neck, he retired in 2006.



After a chance meeting in the Phoenix airport, he married Teri Price Johnson in December 2008 and left his life in England to move to southern Utah.  He brought with him his beloved rescue dog, Bailey, who had her own passport. Peter later went on to help rescue Teri's many pugs with Pug Pals too.



Peter was a family man and proud granddad to Andrew and Amy's children: Zoe, Christian and Benjamin; Daniel and Mel's children: Chloe, Ryan, Samuel, and Amelia, and to Teri's daughter, Siara (Gary) Mackinney's son, Coyte.  This year he became a great granddad to Chloe (Amy) Joyner's son Hayden and Zoe (Reed) Miller's son Cash.



Peter never met a stranger, just a friend he hadn't met yet.  He was always quick to help anyone.  He loved his neighbors, warm weather, decorating for holidays and fishing at Quail lake with his friend, Kathy Crandall.  He was active in many local charity organizations and was key in getting the Hurricane dog park established with Because Animals Matter (BAM).  He was often seen in the area walking multiple dogs while carrying his large parrot on his arm, more than once causing traffic to stop for photos.



As an avid gardener of veggies, cacti and flowers, wherever he lived in the world became a beautiful sanctuary that always included a pond.



Peter was quick to build anything he put his mind to, especially out of wood.  In Hurricane, Utah he created and enjoyed a 'holiday' atmosphere in his back garden with the plants, his outdoor kitchen and his hot tub.



Peter loved to have fun and lived his life by one simple moto - "We might have to grow older but, just like Peter Pan, we don't have to grow up."



A celebration of his life is being planned for this Summer in his Utah back-yard oasis.  Details to be posted here once confirmed.



A second celebration of his life will be held in England when travel opens up again.