William Johnston Jr.

Will Johnston took his last service call for Will’s Heat & Cool on July 8, 2021. It was not a service call to Jerry Lee’s or another one of Will’s loyal clients but rather was a call by the Good Lord Himself. William George Johnston, Jr was born On March 26, 1947, to William G. Johnston, Sr, “Pop” and Virginia Johnston in the Mobile, Alabama area. After graduating high school Will headed up north to Wisconsin for trades school to study heating and cooling. For an Alabama coast boy who considered people from Jackson, Mississippi northerners this was a big move. Will returned to the South where with the combination of his skills and a high work ethic he built a successful heat and cool business that would last for decades and to this very day. He took great pride in his customers being the first ones to open back up after hurricanes. Will was a Southern gentleman, a happy warrior with a servant’s heart, a son, brother, husband, father, grandfather, uncle and friend. Will saw his children and grandchildren as God’s way of supplying him with little fellow troublemakers. He held them up to the Mississippi moon and prayed they would always know their place in the world. He taught them early on that attitude is half the battle, can’t never could, don’t be the guy that asked what just happened, be the guy that made it happen. He also taught them nothing is better than a shared meal with family and friends. During Christmas time he would ice down fresh shrimp and travel hundreds of miles to family from Arkansas to Illinois just to share his version of southern hospitality. Will did not just do random acts of kindness. Will was a random act of kindness. His generosity of his time, treasure and talent were endless and well known. His wit and sense of humor would leave people either laughing or thoroughly puzzled or both and he made no apologies for it. He was always one of the first ones out after a hurricane had passed, ready to lend a hand to neighbors, friends, and strangers alike in need. The world has lost one of the good ones but he has left behind a legacy of Faith, love of family, loyalty to your friends, knowing your place in the world, and not wasting your God given talents. He taught by the example of the life he led. He believed if at the end of the day you made one person feel like things were going to be okay, or if you made one person smile or laugh then you have had a good day and should sleep good that night. It is safe to say Will is in Heaven now, sipping let’s call it sweet tea, wondering what is for dessert, and
cutting up with those who have eagerly awaited him to join them at the table.

Will was preceded in death by his parents, Virginia and William George Johnston, Sr, and his much adored younger sister, Alice Johnston Farmer. Will is survived by his wife, Shirley Johnston, son Jeremy Johnston (Jessica), daughters Sherry Johnston Anderson and her children, Bob and Kelly Anderson, and Terri Johnston, sister Clementine Johnston Weaver and brother in law Billy Weaver, brother in law Danny Ray Farmer and much beloved niece, Tammy and nephew David and great-niece, Katie.

Will is also survived by his God’s Wink family of son John Deemer (Tammy), daughters Jodi Lynn Deemer, Nikki Schalk (Ray), and Bobbie Sullivan (Allen) and Grandpa Will’s crew of grandkids Jordan Schalk, Zach Schalk, Alex Schalk, Ayden Deemer, Chris Johnston, Sebastian Johnston, Valarie McDonald, Josh McDonald, and great-grandchildren Liam, Remington, Bentley and Georgia Lynn. Will is also survived by many truly treasured friends, extended family members, and colleagues. You know who you are. You know what the world has lost. Heaven, this is Houston. You may have a problem but he’s a good one.

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