Matthew P. Johnson

Matthew Paul Johnson, 54 of Amherst, NH peacefully passed away at home on February 20, 2009, following a heroic and courageous 16-month battle with cancer. Matt was born in Colorado on August 31, 1954 to George and Dorothy Keefe. George prematurely passed away as the result of a car accident. Eventually his Mother remarried, and Matt and his two older brothers were adopted by his father, William Johnson. Matt�s family moved from New Jersey to Amherst when he was 10 years old. He attended Trinity High School in Manchester, NH and participated in many sporting activities. Matt later attended and graduated from the University of Dayton, and has always been a proud alumnus of all of his schools of attendance. Throughout Matt�s professional career, he had been recognized for his diligence and tenacity in achieving any goal that was established. Most recently, Matt was a national sales representative for Perrigo Pharmaceuticals. In his position, he represented his company to institutions such as CVS and Rite Aide Corporations. He was an extremely devoted employee, and was often recognized for being outstanding in the positions he held. Throughout his battle with this disease, Matt rarely missed a day of work, and only began a leave of absence on January 30th 2009, though eligible to discontinue work since October of 2007. For many years, Matt served on the Board of Directors for Souhegan Valley Resources, a group devoted to assisting adults with disabilities within the community. Through his vivacious personality and influence, he was able to garner tremendous support for this organization that he cared so much about. Matt was an avid sports fan, and if no other sporting event was available, he would even sit and watch poker on TV! For many years Matt followed his dear brother Tony�s Bishop Guertin football team. He attended every game, home or away, always on the field advising his brother, to the extent that he could. Matt was very proud of his daughter, his wife, has parents, his siblings, and extended family. Given a willing ear, he would tell anyone of their attributes, achievements, and his love for them. Matt truly loved his town of Amherst. Regardless of where we would go in town, there was a tale of mischief that he had gotten himself into over the years, much of which we cannot write here. Matt was truly a larger than life man, and he recognized that at times he lived in a manner that was harder than he needed to do, but he always tried to do the best he could. Matt sometimes took people aback when he met them because he almost abruptly wanted to know everything he could about the individual he was speaking to. Upon meeting that person again, Matt would most assuredly recall something previously said that would bring a smile to that persons face, and have them feel good about themselves. Matt was a deeply spiritual man. For over seventeen years he has worked at becoming the man God intended him to be. He understood that it was an ongoing process, which required work from him, and was a process, which had no end. He had tremendous faith and was always willing to share his experience, strength, and hope to anyone in need. Matt is survived by his loving family, including his wife, Johanna, his cherished daughter, Emma, his stepsons, Joshua and Jared, his parents, William and Dorothy, his brothers, Michael, Patrick and his wife, Darrice and their daughter, Ciarra, Corry and his wife, Tammy and their sons, Will and Ben, Tony and his wife, Linda and their children, Douglas and Katie, his younger sister, Jennifer and her husband, Stephen, and their children, SJ and Christopher. There are many extended family members including his beloved aunts, uncles, cousins, in-laws and many, many friends that he considered family. Calling hours are Monday, February 23rd from 2-4 & 6-9 pm in the Smith & Heald Funeral Home, 63 Elm Street, Milford, NH. A mass of Christian burial will be celebrated on Tuesday at 10:00 am in St. Patrick�s Church, 34 Amherst Street, Milford. In lieu of flowers, kindly make donations in remembrance of Matt to either: Souhegan Valley Resources, 11 Caldwell Drive, Amherst, NH 03031 and/or Motivating Miles, P.O. Box 92, Amherst, NH 03031 Http://www.motivatingmiles.com Our sincere gratitude to all of those that have supported our family during this illness, and to Matt and Johanna�s places of employment, the Perrigo Corporation, and the Milford School District. We are gathering stories of Matt to have bound in a book for his daughter Emma, so she can share in the stories he most certainly would have told her in the years to come. Kindly forward any you may have to Johanna. �Continue your journey with great spirit and joy.� M.P. Johnson, 2008 SPECIAL ACCOMMODATIONS ARE BEING PROVIDED BY THE HILTON GARDEN INN, 101 SOUTH COMMERCIAL STREET, MANCHESTER, NH (603) 669-2222 OR ONLINE AT WWW.HGI-MANCHESTER.COM