Jere Scott Johnson
December 21, 1938-May 26, 2022
Jere “Scott” Johnson, beloved husband, brother, father, and grandfather passed away at the age
of 83 in Star Valley Ranch, Wyoming. Scott was born and raised in Worland, Wyoming to Max
and Rebecca Johnson. He attended Worland High School where he was the Senior Class
President. He excelled in football helping his team to four state championships and four
undefeated seasons. After high school, he attended the University of Wyoming on a football
scholarship and completed his bachelor’s degree in mathematics and science in 1961.
His first job was in Melbeta, Nebraska where he taught math and science, 7th
through 12th grade, coached boys’ and girls’ basketball, volleyball, boys’ and girls’ track, and drove the school bus.
The next fall, he moved to Torrington, Wyoming and taught geometry, coached football, and
assisted with wrestling, and track. It was at Torrington High School where he met and fell in love
with Bonnie Lutt. They married on June 21, 1963. Their first daughter, Julie (Walters) was born
in 1965, and their second daughter Jody (Little) was born in 1967.
With their two small children in tow, Scott and Bonnie moved to Alamosa, Colorado in the fall
of 1967 where he coached football at Adam’s State College and completed his master’s degree.
Then in 1968, Scott and his family moved to Ashland, Oregon where Scott was hired by
Southern Oregon College as the head ski coach (never skied a day in his life), assistant football
coach, and physical education instructor. In the following years, he coached baseball, and in
1972, he became the head football coach. In Ashland, Scott and Bonnie made many lifelong
friends who became their extended family.
In 1980, Scott and his family left Ashland and moved to Corvallis, Oregon where both he and
Bonnie began their doctorate degrees at Oregon State University. Scott soon joined the football
staff for OSU where he coached outside linebackers for five years.
With both daughters in college, Scott and Bonnie moved to Chico, California in 1985 where
Bonnie became a professor at Chico State University. “This time we are moving for your
career,” he told Bonnie. During their 14 years in Chico, Scott volunteered to coach the defensive
line for Chico State University, served as a supervisor of secondary student teachers, taught
classes in the department of physical education, and was a partner in a catfish farm business.
In 1999, Scott and Bonnie retired and moved to Star Valley Ranch, Wyoming, where Scott
became an active member in the ranch community. After seven snowy winters in Wyoming,
Scott and Bonnie became snowbirds, enjoying the companionship of wonderful friends in the
warmth of Lake Havasu City, Arizona. Scott enjoyed many wonderful travels abroad to Europe,
the United Kingdom, New Zealand, and South Africa as well as numerous trips in the United
States, including a Mississippi river boat cruise with his daughters, and a trip to Augusta,
Georgia to attend the Masters. Scott was an avid follower of University of Wyoming and Oregon
State University athletic teams, and he loved following the professional baseball career of family
friend, Nick Hundley.
Scott’s pride and joy was always his family: his sister, Ann, her children and grandchildren, his
daughters, sons-in-law, Dan and Steve, and his four beloved grandchildren, Scott, Zach, Alli, and
Ryan. Upon each grandchild’s high school graduation, Scott and Bonnie took each of them on a
specially planned trip. He loved sharing stories of his grandchildren with all his friends.
A celebration of Scott’s life will be held at Star Valley United Church on Saturday, June 4 at
2:00 P.M. In lieu of flowers, Scott’s family encourages a donation to the Cowboy Joe Club to
support student athletes at the University of Wyoming (cowboyjoeclub.com) or a donation to
your local food bank.