Bunny JoDean Johnson

Bunny JoDean Johnson, 39 (just kidding, 81), passed away on August 5, 2026, at the Wyoming Retirement Center in Basin, Wyoming after struggling with dementia for nine years.

Bunny was born to Dudley and Hazel Howery in Laramie, Wyoming on December 7, 1944. She was the oldest of two children, her younger brother being Del Howery. She grew up in Laramie and lived there for the majority of her life. She attended Laramie High School, and afterward worked at Dunn’s Coffee Shop where she met Joe Johnson, whom she would later marry in September of 1964. The two of them had a band together, and while he would play bass, she would sing.

The couple moved to Missoula, Montana for Joe’s work where she became a freelance photographer. She had a deep love for nature and would take photos every chance she had, from mountains and landscapes to flowers, butterflies, dogs, and lots and lots of snow. They moved to Jackson Hole in 1970, where they welcomed their daughter, Dawn. In 1975, they welcomed their second daughter, Naomi, after moving to Salt Lake City. That is when she attended Utah Technical College and became a Licensed Practical Nurse on August 24th, 1973, and she worked as a Labor and Delivery Nurse until 1983 when she and her two daughters moved back to Laramie to take care of her parents.

While in Laramie, she attended school at The University of Wyoming and graduated with a Bachelor of Science and became a Registered Nurse. She began work at Ivinson Memorial Hospital immediately after graduation, but unfortunately, a work accident led to her back being broken which ended her nursing career. However, it allowed her to pursue a career in animal care, which she preferred over people. Bunny ran Pampered Pets, a homecare pet service to care for and love other people’s pets, ranging from iguanas, goats, and emus to Dalmatians and cats. She also made time to pursue her creative passions. She spent many years clowning (and she still clowns us, with love), she continued to take thousands of pictures, and she painted every flat surface available.

Bunny was active and loved to hike, and she had a deep love for the Snowy Range. She was also an active member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, from 1973, when she joined the Church, until she passed. She was most proud of her family, especially her grandchildren. She loved to spend time with them, teaching them to love animals, nature, science, and art, just as much as she did. Music, particularly her favorite hymns, were her final forms of communication with her family.

She was preceded in death by her parents and her husband, Joe. She is survived by her brother, Del (Emily) Howery, their children, as well as her daughter, Dawn Johnson; her daughter, Naomi (Jason) Durrant, and her grandchildren, Spencer Durrant, Sariah (Elijah) Durrant, Gabriel Durrant, Caleb (Audrey) Durrant, Jacob Durrant, Joseph Durrant, and Elizabeth Durrant.

A memorial service will be held 11:00 a.m. Tuesday, August 11, 2026, at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Worland, Wyoming. Online condolences may be made at www.bryantfuneralhomeonline.com.