Bud died Monday, Sept. 25 of congestive heart failure in Fortuna after a long illness.

Four years ago Bud was given six hours to live.  He pulled through.  With the love and heroic effort of his mother Mary Jo, the staff of Resolution Care, Desiree Walters, and especially Kim Sylvia, Bud had been able to live semi-independently until his passing.

Bud graduated with the bicentennial rebel class of 1976 where he was the partier in chief and a two time all county selection in baseball.

Upon graduation he was employed as a house mover, fish plant maintenance man and green chain puller.  He then enlisted in the United States Marine Corps and proudly served until his discharge in 1983. 

After his discharge Bud worked as a commercial fisherman on the Allan Cody out of Fields Landing.  He spent two seasons gold dredging on the Trinity River where he developed a lifelong love of gold panning, searching for old bottles and hunting arrowheads. 

Though until he became too ill to work Bud’s primary occupation was in the building trades where he worked for more contractors than worker’s comp.  Employed mainly as a concrete and brick mason Bud wanted to note his great admiration in working or Hugh McKenny, Rich Olson, Colin Ott, and George Kurwitz on Fort Baker Ranch projects.

Besides work Bud’s creates love was being out of doors and hunting and fishing.  From the age of seven he began bagging small game such as squirrel, rabbit, quail and grouse.  At thirteen he bagged his first buck over which there was debate over hanging it in the meat house or turning it in for scrap metal.  At the age of eight Bud learned to operate a skull boat.  He blew a mean duck and goose call, loved hunting bear with hound’s, shark fishing, clam digging, surf fishing and knocking off coyotes wherever he found them.  He helped and friends and young people realize a love of hunting and the outdoors.

Bud was predeceased by his father George Adreon Johnson and his brother Glenn Adreon Johnson.  He is survived by his daughter Jamie Gillespie, a son Dan Brughelli who through the miracle of DNA Bud found out he had and was able to connect with the last several years.  Mother Mary Jo Johnson, brothers Larry (Polly) and David (Shari) Johnson.  Aunt’s and Uncles Dorothy Doggett, Brad Johnson, and Roy and Dianna Johnson whom Bud had a special relationship in his earlier years.  Nieces and Nephews and their families Chantry (Mac) and Orion Dorrell, RiAnne Johnson, Travis (Andrea) and Max and Adrion Johnson, David Jr. and Colt and Ryker Johnson, Cody Severtson, and special friends Jan and Bill Gillespie.

Those hoping to dance on the grave while emptying their bladders will be bitterly disappointed to know Bud’s ashes will be spread at the family property in Trinity County at a later date.

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The obituary above was submitted by Bud’s loved ones. The Lost Coast Outpost runs obituaries of Humboldt County residents at no charge. See guidelines here.