Johnnie Lawrence Roberts

Johnnie Lawrence Roberts slipped away peacefully on Thursday, December 21, 2023, at his West Valley City, Utah residence. At his side was his wife of 39 years, Eleanore Ray Roberts.

Johnnie (John) was born May 13, 1942, to Johnnie Nelson Roberts and Mary Agnes Murdock in Danville, Virginia. John had two older brothers and one younger sister: the late Gordon Nelson Roberts, the late James Lester Roberts (Brigitta), and the late Delores Ann Roberts (Charles Willard).

At 23 years old, he married Grace Davis in Danville, Virginia, in 1961 (later divorced). April P. Roberts, their only child, was born May 29, 1970.

John served as a proud United States Marine, as both a gunsmith and a large weapons specialist. He served one tour of duty in Vietnam and one in Vietnam/Saigon and was stationed in more than a dozen places. After his honorable discharge from the Marines, John worked for Pinkerton Security and Dick Simon Trucking.

John was baptized a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints on January 31, 1976, in Quantico, VA. It changed his life. He loved the Gospel of Jesus Christ and was determined to honor his priesthood by giving blessings and setting up and passing the sacrament in the assisted living branches he later lived and served in.

John married Eleanore (Ellen) Louise Ray Dymond on November 30, 1984, in Salt Lake City, Utah. The following year, he earned his associate’s degree in business management from Salt Lake Community College in 1985. John and Ellen loved serving in the temple, and they did so for several years in both the Salt Lake City and Manti, Utah temples.

John suffered a stroke in November 2010. He loved being cared for by his wife Ellen, a nurse of nearly two decades, as he faced health and ambulatory struggles for the last 13 years of his life. With the help of family and friends, Johnnie was sealed to his deceased siblings and parents in April 2023 before he passed.

Johnnie is survived by his wife Ellen Roberts, his daughter April Pennington Roberts Cluster (Jeremy Loren Cluster), and nine stepchildren: Patricia Peterson (W. Curtis), Ellen Ketcham (Dan), Bradley Dymond (Alison), Margaret ‘Peg’ Batty (Layne), Jeanette Dymond, David Dymond (Tracie), Timothy Dymond (Angela), Daniel Dymond (Jenni), and Benjamin Dymond. He is also survived by 45 grandchildren (two are deceased), 55 great-grandchildren, and four great-great-grandchildren.

Thank you to the hospice and nursing staff at Rocky Mountain Care Hunter Hollow for their professional and compassionate service.