Eric Lynn Johnson
- James Robinson
- 14 hours ago
- 2 min read
Mr. Eric Lynn Johnson, 60, of Tempe, Arizona died Friday, January 9, 2026 at St. Joseph’s hospital in Phoenix, Arizona due to complications with liver cancer.
Eric was born in Mesa, Arizona on October 19, 1965, to Garry Kelwin Johnson and Jane Allred Johnson. Eric was raised on his family’s Ayrshire Dairy farm located on E. Southern Avenue in Mesa until the age of 12. In 1978, the family relocated to Fallon, Nevada and purchased a large crop farm. Eric loved to work on both the dairy and the crop farm. While in Fallon, he and his brothers formed a band called Theatre of Ice, which was the birth of the Death Rock genre. Eric attended Churchill County High School and served as the youngest ever State FFA President and later graduated in 1983.
Eric was a faithful member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. In 1985, he was called to the Atlanta, Georgia mission where he served the people of that area.
Eric attended Auburn University from 1994-1997 where he received his Bachelor of Science in Economics and his Master of Business Administration in Finance. From 1997-2000 he attended The University of Alabama School of Law where he received his Juris Doctorate. Lastly, from August 2000-May 2001, he attended New York University School of Law to receive his Masters of Law in Taxation.
After passing the Arizona State Bar Exam, Eric used his talents at Arizona law firms such as Gust Rosenfeld, Bryan Cave, and Snell & Wilmer specializing in Tax and Estate Planning. In 2006, he started his own law firm, ATE Law, where he specialized in Aviation, Tax Planning, as well as Estate Planning.
Eric served in many callings in the LDS church, including: young men’s advisor, scout leader, ward mission leader, ward clerk, stake high council, counselor in several bishoprics, and most recently he served as the Bishop of the Del Rio ward in Tempe, Arizona.
Eric is survived by his wife, Erin Butler Johnson, and his children Fallon Johnson Lavis (Joshua Lavis), Alyssa Johnson Boger (Steven Boger), Grant Benjamin Johnson (Heaven Varnes), Hailey Willis Smith (Landon Smith), Whitney Rae Willis, and Macey Lynn Willis. Loving Grandfather to Romy Lavis, Angelina Lavis, Finnley Boger, Stevie Boger, and Lane Johnson.
A memorial service in memory of Eric will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, January 24, 2026 at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints located at 2707 S College Avenue, Tempe, AZ 85282. Flowers may be sent to that address 2 hours before the service. Family and friends are welcome to attend. It will also be streamed on YouTube.
