Prayers

[mudsucker]

Shaun Mayette called me on my Ship yesterday as I was getting ready to leave for my time off to ask if I had heard about Ronnie. I had not and it hit me like a punch to the gut. It was a long ride home as I thought about meeting Ronnie when he first moved to Rankin Co. I sold him a ticket to our DU event off this forum. Soon after I had a tree fall on my house and put out the word for a chainsaw or two on here. Did not expect it but, Ronnie and Mandy showed up to help even though they were new to the area, That is the kind of guy he was. Helping others. He did some work on a laptop we were having trouble with. He knew his trade frontwards and backwards! The 'puter worked like a charm after that. All I could think of was sweet Mandy and His son Noah and the tragic loss they face. My heart aches for them. RIP, brother Ronnie.

[huntersmky]

I only knew Ronnie through my many years on the board but he always seemed like a hell of a guy that would help someone with anything. I'm so sorry for you fellows that lost a friend and brother but even more sorry for Noah that will grow up without a father. My dad too died when I was 7 and that's extremely tough at that age. Godspeed RJohnson. Prayers for him, his family, and you guys that called him a friend.

[Buckwabit]

Very sad to hear. I saw the wreck and had no idea who it was. Prayers for his family

[Agua]

Wow. Shock. Only knew him from the board and his sharp wit. Sorry to all his family. Prayers up for a good dude.

[Barq's]

Praying for his wife and his son....May the dear Lord comfort his family as much as possible...I hate to hear this and know that this place will miss him along with all the members....

[novacaine]

Although it tears my heart out every time i view this tribute to our dear friend Ronnie, i still cant keep from going to it over and over again.
Ronnie, Mandy, and Noah have sort of become an extended part of my family over the last few years.
Ronnie was an adopted member of my hunting club. He and my son Keever are the only members. Keevers membership is constantly in limbo, Ronnie's never was. Since Ronnie and i have hunted together on out of state hunts in the past, we sort of formed a bond because we seem to be good luck for each other........we always killed ducks when we hunted together, he was a good hunter, and as a bonus he was pleasant to hunt with. Anyone who has been on extended hunting trips or has spent time in a blind with someone knows what i mean.
When i got this new place to hunt back in 2015-2016 season, I called Ronnie to hunt with me often. My son had his cast of characters that he carried as guest so i needed a buddy to hunt with me as we were often splitting up into 2 groups. I needed a "young blood" hunting buddy with a real passion for duck hunting to enjoy the chase with me. As Keever and his hunting buddy "Durt" stated often.........."Ronnie's your man". That's right, Ronnie was my man, my buddy, my friend,my lets go go go and chase them!! That year we had a large time and became thick as thieves.

Early this last year we began discussions on fixing the camp house and making it livable. We were only using it the first year as a staging area to hold decoys and other equipment. We needed it to be family and friends livable. Ronnie jumped in like a Tasmanian devil with list, ideas,tools, energy to spare. We spoke weekly about plans, needs, next steps,etc.,etc. By opening weekend 2016 we were 95 % there.
Every weekend we would stay at the camp and multiple times Mandy, Noah, and Penny(retriever) would come to hunt with us. It was very important to him to have a place that his family could come and enjoy "camp life" with him. There was a big push to get Mandy her first duck and to carry Noah to give him an early start on a sport that Ronnie was so passionate about. We hunted, we cooked, we campfired, we just hung out. Many of you know how funny and dry witted Ronnie was. What i came to realize was that Ronnie, Mandy, and Noah together was a riot, an absolute hoot! I dont know when i have had a better time with a family other than my own.
Another thing i came to realize quickly was his wisdom and kindness. For such a young man, he was very thoughtful and offered great advice and insight. I observed this many times while listing to his conversations with my son. We would always joke and pick at each other but you realized quickly that there was real substance to this man. He is not one to be easily shaken. He was grounded in what really matter..... Christ,family,friendships.
Thats who he was. Ronnie would talk about all 3......just get the conversation started.
I guess im typing this as therapy for myself and i know many of those that call him "friend" have similar stories.
This just happens to be spilling out of me right now.

[jtdumallard]

This is the first i have heard of Ronnie's passing. Crushed is an understatement. As others have already stated, Ronnie was as loyal of a friend as anyone could ask for. Thankful to know he had a personal relationship with our savior Jesus and to know he is resting in his arms. Praying for Mandy and Noah. Please post the arrangements when they are made known.

[eSJay]

Visitation
Friday, February 17, 2017
5:00 PM - 7:00 PM
Ott & Lee Funeral Home-Brandon
1360 W. Government St.
Brandon, Mississippi 39042

Visitation
Saturday, February 18, 2017
10:00 AM - 10:45 AM
Pinelake Church
6071 MS-25
Brandon, Mississippi 39047

Memorial Service
Saturday, February 18, 2017
11:00 AM
Pinelake Church
6071 MS-25
Brandon, Mississippi 39047

[champcaller]

Novacaine, Vickers and others I know were much closer to Ronnie than most, and I'm sure y'all have thought about this but I'd be happy to help gather some of my old hunting clothes and gear for Noah as I'm sure Ronnie would want him to know the sport of duck hunting. I'd be glad to help with a hunt anyway I can when he's ready so his dad's friends can tell stories about his old man one day. Might be to soon but y'all let us know what he needs and me and the rest of us will be sure he gets it. Gun, call, clothes, whatever just let us know.

I hate Ronnie is gone and I can't imagine what Mandy and Noah are going through. Bless them.

[novacaine]

Novacaine, Vickers and others I know were much closer to Ronnie than most, and I'm sure y'all have thought about this but I'd be happy to help gather some of my old hunting clothes and gear for Noah as I'm sure Ronnie would want him to know the sport of duck hunting. I'd be glad to help with a hunt anyway I can when he's ready so his dad's friends can tell stories about his old man one day. Might be to soon but y'all let us know what he needs and me and the rest of us will be sure he gets it. Gun, call, clothes, whatever just let us know.

I hate Ronnie is gone and I can't imagine what Mandy and Noah are going through. Bless them.

Young Noah will be pretty well hooked up once he grows into Ronnie's frame. As many of you know, Ronnie had become quite the waterfowl garment snob over the last few years Barbour,Wren and Ivy,Filson,Barretta..........you name it, he acquired it.
In the interim though, we will keep a tally on Mr Noah's needs and i will keep yall posted.I plan on Noah and Mandy being duck hunting residents at my camp from now on.
Last i talked to Ronnie, we were planning a camp cleanup day. Still a lot of their stuff at camp.........seeing his tools of war laying around will bring up sad as well as happy emotions.

[donia]

sunrise shared closing morning 2017 with rjohnson, driveby, novacaine & keever (a.k.a. water cowboy)

[matador1]

Although it tears my heart out every time i view this tribute to our dear friend Ronnie, i still cant keep from going to it over and over again.
Ronnie, Mandy, and Noah have sort of become an extended part of my family over the last few years.
Ronnie was an adopted member of my hunting club. He and my son Keever are the only members. Keevers membership is constantly in limbo, Ronnie's never was. Since Ronnie and i have hunted together on out of state hunts in the past, we sort of formed a bond because we seem to be good luck for each other........we always killed ducks when we hunted together, he was a good hunter, and as a bonus he was pleasant to hunt with. Anyone who has been on extended hunting trips or has spent time in a blind with someone knows what i mean.
When i got this new place to hunt back in 2015-2016 season, I called Ronnie to hunt with me often. My son had his cast of characters that he carried as guest so i needed a buddy to hunt with me as we were often splitting up into 2 groups. I needed a "young blood" hunting buddy with a real passion for duck hunting to enjoy the chase with me. As Keever and his hunting buddy "Durt" stated often.........."Ronnie's your man". That's right, Ronnie was my man, my buddy, my friend,my lets go go go and chase them!! That year we had a large time and became thick as thieves.

Early this last year we began discussions on fixing the camp house and making it livable. We were only using it the first year as a staging area to hold decoys and other equipment. We needed it to be family and friends livable. Ronnie jumped in like a Tasmanian devil with list, ideas,tools, energy to spare. We spoke weekly about plans, needs, next steps,etc.,etc. By opening weekend 2016 we were 95 % there.
Every weekend we would stay at the camp and multiple times Mandy, Noah, and Penny(retriever) would come to hunt with us. It was very important to him to have a place that his family could come and enjoy "camp life" with him. There was a big push to get Mandy her first duck and to carry Noah to give him an early start on a sport that Ronnie was so passionate about. We hunted, we cooked, we campfired, we just hung out. Many of you know how funny and dry witted Ronnie was. What i came to realize was that Ronnie, Mandy, and Noah together was a riot, an absolute hoot! I dont know when i have had a better time with a family other than my own.
Another thing i came to realize quickly was his wisdom and kindness. For such a young man, he was very thoughtful and offered great advice and insight. I observed this many times while listing to his conversations with my son. We would always joke and pick at each other but you realized quickly that there was real substance to this man. He is not one to be easily shaken. He was grounded in what really matter..... Christ,family,friendships.
Thats who he was. Ronnie would talk about all 3......just get the conversation started.
I guess im typing this as therapy for myself and i know many of those that call him "friend" have similar stories.
This just happens to be spilling out of me right now.

We should all hope an strive to be remembered like this one day. What an awesome tribute to an awesome guy.

[teul2]

Novacaine, Vickers and others I know were much closer to Ronnie than most, and I'm sure y'all have thought about this but I'd be happy to help gather some of my old hunting clothes and gear for Noah as I'm sure Ronnie would want him to know the sport of duck hunting. I'd be glad to help with a hunt anyway I can when he's ready so his dad's friends can tell stories about his old man one day. Might be to soon but y'all let us know what he needs and me and the rest of us will be sure he gets it. Gun, call, clothes, whatever just let us know.

I hate Ronnie is gone and I can't imagine what Mandy and Noah are going through. Bless them.

TJ we'll let you know something soon. There are several "irons in the fire" to make sure Noah has all the opportunities to hunt he wants and mentors to take him.

[novacaine]

I saw a facebook post about Ronnie that Gator posted and it got me remembering and laughing about some of Ronnie's antics.
Have you ever seen a man that carried more candy, treats, drinks, nicknacks and crap in his blind bag than Ronnie Johnson. I bet you could have bet him $100 to show you a wiring harness for a 1967 model 856 international harvester tractor and he would have pulled one out and taken your money...........His blind bag must have been some type of 4 th dimension space time continuum contraption! Now dont get me wrong, i appreciated the fact that he was gonna keep everybody jacked up on chocolate, cheese, and other trinkets!
He would also pull up some annoying youtube video that would get stuck in your head for days.
Then he would text you a day or 2 later with some of the words or melody just to get the whole thing started over again. He would get the biggest kick out of that........
Look up "Yoda, stop it now" or Yoda, seagulls.........................get that crap stuck in your head

[teul2]

He would also pull up some annoying youtube video that would get stuck in your head for days.
Then he would text you a day or 2 later with some of the words or melody just to get the whole thing started over again. He would get the biggest kick out of that........
Look up "Yoda, stop it now" or Yoda, seagulls.........................get that crap stuck in your head

Leroooooooy JAAAAANNNNKKKKIIINNNSSSS (<<< see profile pic)
This video, Ronnie brought up in a pint in AR, has given us years of one liners. "It's not my fault, I'm so high", "At least I have chicken".
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mLyOj_QD4a4