Kathy Johnson

Kathy Johnson of Louisville, TN passed away peacefully on Friday July 24, 2026 at Blount Memorial Hospital after a long hard-fought battle with COPD.

Kathy was one of the most beautiful souls on earth. She was the most loving, giving, selfless person. Her kindness to others was unmatched. Kathy loved her family fiercely. They were the most important people in her life. She and her four daughters shared such an incredibly strong bond. She adored her grandchildren and great grandchildren as well as her little dog Sam aka “Little Bit” and all her other dogs she had through the years. She loved all animals and was a “foster failure” more than once. Meaning, once they came home with her, they were home forever.

Kathy was as tough as nails which helped her in her health battle. She was strong. That strength led her to a career as a police officer at Canton Police Department in Canton, GA in the late 1980’s. she then moved back to TN and became the first female police officer ever at Morgan County Sheriff’s Department in Wartburg, TN. She then worked at the Blount County Justice Center as a corrections officer until her retirement from law enforcement in the early 2000’s. She was proud to wear the badge and was always a staunch supporter of law enforcement. The love for her blue family never faded.

She loved the simple things in life, a loving home, time with her family and spoiling all her dogs rotten. Her little chihuahua Sam was her fierce, loyal protector and companion. She loved her country and as a military spouse for many years, always supported our military. She loved the Blue Angels and watched their air shows any chance she had. She loved the ocean and vacations to the Florida gulf coast with her daughters and grandchildren.

Her daughters will carry a void without her forever but they also carry her strength and love forever as well. The main words used so often by so many to describe her are loving, kind, caring, special and precious. She was all of these things and so much more.

Kathy is survived by her best friends and daughters Connie Puma, Sherry (Bob) Price, Missy Jones and Becky Baker. Her grandchildren Danielle (David) Rea, Zack Jones and Justin Jones. Her great grandchildren Savannah Rea, Trevor Cannon, Spencer Jones, Ezra Lance and Taylor Rea. Her sister Judy Cool, her special niece that she loved as a daughter, Brooke Pouliotte and many other nieces and nephews she loved dearly. Last but most certainly not least, her loving, loyal chihuahua Sam aka “Little Bit."

Kathy is preceded in death by her husband Ken Johnson, parents Charles and Violet Dyer, brothers Troy, Don, Gary and Michael Dyer.Visitation will be held on Thursday July 30, 2026 from 5:00PM-7:00PM with the service following at 7:00PM located at Maryville Church of Christ. The burial will be held the following day, Friday July 31, 2026 at 1:00PM located at Edgewood Cemetery in Knoxville, TN.

In lieu of flowers the family requests that donations be made in her memory to www.maarcadopt.org, or to any local animal rescue of your choosing. She was so passionate about saving animals.