Reland ‘Rex’ Johnson returned to his Heavenly Father and family members beyond the veil on Sunday May 17th, 2026. He passed away peacefully in his sleep at The Abbington senior living center in Murray, Utah, after a long battle with Alzheimer's.

Rex was born March 27, 1941 in Salt Lake City, Utah, to Reland Abraham Johnson and Wilma Johnson-Anderson.

In the 1950’s, Rex attended Olympus High School and was an exemplary student. He worked odd jobs and helped his father with the family business, Johnson's Garage and Service, which was located around 4100 S. State Street.

During his early years, he enjoyed spending time with the Anderson family in Coalville, Utah. The family settled in Murray, and as he grew up, he enjoyed school and playing baseball with his cousins in Tremonton.

In the 1960’s, Rex went to work for UDOT in their land group, buying land rights for I15 in central Utah. He served in Korea during the Vietnam war from 1966-1969; where he worked processing soldiers who were on their way home.

Also during this time period, he married Rita Cavoli, and they had two sons; Reland ‘Mark’ and Steven Rex ‘Bubba’ Johnson.

Later in life, Rex married Elpitha Sourlos and they had three children; Christopher Frederick, Stephanie Elizabeth, and Andrew Michael Johnson.

Rex continued to work in Right-of-Way sector of the real estate industry. In the late 1980’s, while working for Wiltel, his group worked to buy rights to install the first fiber optic cable from Chicago to Los Angeles. He was very proud of this achievement because it was one of the first steps that made high speed data communications possible.

He loved all dogs, most prominently, his childhood dog Cinnamon.

Rex loved all children, especially his own; He was a devoted father and spent time coaching baseball and football in South Davis and North Davis Counties. He loved spending quality time with his family, he took us fishing, and to many sporting events over the years.

Rex loved cars of all kinds, sometimes buying and selling nearly a dozen a year. He even owned a Porsche 911 at one time.

Rex is survived by his son Reland Mark Johnson, and Mark’s wife, Barbara Moore-Johnson. His grandchildren Reland Ryne Johnson, his step grandchildren Bianca Natasha Moore and McKenna

Dakota Marie Moore, and one great grandchild, Alexander James Burton.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Reland Abraham and Wilma Johnson-Anderson. His first wife Rita Mazza, nee Cavoli, his second wife, Elpitha Johnson, nee Sourlos, and his children Steven Rex ‘Bubba’ Johnson, Christopher Frederick, Stephanie Elizabeth, and Andrew Michael Johnson.

The family has chosen to grieve in private at this time. A celebration of life will be announced at a later date.