On Friday, December 16, 2022, Zachary Trent Johnson, our loving son, brother, grandson, and uncle passed away at the age of thirty-five. An avid outdoorsman, Zach was happiest snowboarding in the mountains, particularly Red River, N.M with his brother, Josh, skim boarding on the sands of Florida’s coastlines and kayaking intercoastal canals and more recently, the Brazos with his siblings and friends. Growing up on Eagle Mountain Lake in Fort Worth, TX, he loved all things related to the water including jet skiing, water skiing, wakeboarding, and fishing. Among his many hobbies, he had an affinity for mixing and recording EDM (electronic dance music) and had set a goal to eventually release an EP. Zach loved life and found solace in nature and caring for his beloved canine rescue, Jaws. He left a legacy of YouTube videos of his passions through GoPro footage he recorded and edited of his various adventures. You can see them all on this page below.
He was an honor student at Boswell High School and graduated in the top 10% of his class in 2006. He played football for the Boswell Pioneers, ran track and was a member of National Honor Society. In 2012, Zachary earned his bachelor’s degree in Hospitality Management from University of North Texas where he was also part of the intramural rock-climbing club.
He was best known for his quiet demeanor, dry sense of humor and quick wit. His siblings will remember his funny shenanigans and crazy, spontaneous antics. Zach was a goal setter, list maker and a task master who paid close attention to detail. With the guidance of his stepdad, Steve, Zachary blossomed in the field of Quality Assurance where he worked as a process manager for Senspex in Rio Rancho, N.M., a thermal imaging technology company for the US military. He had just completed his Six Sigma Lean Green Belt certification in March and was testing for his QSA certification.
Above everything he loved about life, his family ranked at the top. He never let a holiday, birthday or special occasion pass that he didn’t send a gift, card, or make a call. He checked in weekly with phone calls to catch up on the latest family news. A native Texan, he flew home as often as he could to spend time with those he loved the most, his family.
Zachary is survived by his mom, Rhonda Ross & husband Bob, father Trent Johnson, stepdad Stephen O’Brien, and his siblings, Josh Johnson & wife Chelsey, Lexi O’Brien, Landry O’Brien, Candice O’Brien-Johnson & husband Zach, Brett O’Brien & wife Jennifer, his nieces, Ripley & Kinsley, nephews, Jeffrey, Kyle & William, his grandparents, Ron & Nancy Frank, Ed & Linda Stegall, Shirley Johnson & John R. Johnson & wife Chris.
(Add link to view response page here)
(Slideshow is a work in progress)
Click on the slideshow above to view all photos
All of his videos are embedded in their entirety below for easier viewing as well
Zach's Youtube Videos - Click Each One to Play
"07-2022 Finished Unpackin' Rio Rancho"
2:15 minutes
Zach's most recent video
"Kayaking the Brazos River - Scenic Route"
25 minutes
"June 2018 - October 2019 Dad & Zach"
32 minutes
"11-2017 Josh & Zach Salt Lake City"
7 minutes
"Christmas 2019"
4 minutes
"The OBriens & Johnsons Family Trip 07-2018 Deerfield Beach FL"
8 minutes
"Zach's Day at Work 4-7-20"
5:30 minutes
"Papaws 79th B Day March 21 2018"
1 minute
20 minutes
"09 2018 2nd KayaK Trip & NEW KAYAK!"
18:30 minutes
3:30 minutes
"7 30 19 Zach Catches Cravalle Jack"
5:15 minutes
"7 6 19 Zach & Trent catch crab and baracuda"
5:00 minutes
"Zach & Josh" around 2005
30 seconds