Judy’s Story about Jason and Tim Johnson

Dear family,

My name is Judy Ray, I am the Lead Employment consultant for CCP Gorham, the day program that Tim attended daily. I was one of the first Employment Consultants at CCP to get to know and work with Tim.  I am deeply saddened to hear of Tim’s passing. When finding out about his passing at work this past Tuesday morning, I was flooded with memories of Tim. I write to share a very funny memory involving Tim, myself, and a dear lost friend of mine, Jason.

As you know Tim was a bundle of energy thus creating problems for staff, as our hallways were not always big enough for Tim. So, one day I decided to take Tim to a secluded forested walking trail at Bryant Lake Park/Disc Golf Course. I had been there before as I am an avid disc golfer, and knew of this trail and thought its’ desolate pathway would provide us with some freedom. All was good during our walk; Tim seemed to be having a ball as he gallivanted on in front of me. Time passed by quickly, and our walk had come to an end. Being a new staff with Tim, I had no idea of the challenge ahead. At first I found his resistance to getting in the van very comical and playful. A half hour passed, then forty- five minutes passed by, then I started to worry. We were going to be late for his afternoon departure from CCP to his residence; we had only thirty minutes left until that time. I pleaded with Tim, bribed him with his magazine, and I also pretended that I was leaving with out him (he was laughing at this point), nothing worked!

Out of the blue, my dear departed friend, Jason drove up in his station wagon to play a round of disc golf after he had previously that day completed his Star Tribune newspaper route. Jason was quite surprise to see me at the park during the middle of a work day. In a way, I was relieved to see somebody I knew. Jason’s easygoing spirit dampened my nerves at a time of total chaos. I asked Tim to come and meet my friend and so he did. Tim was always such a friendly guy, and of course he was in a great mood. I spoke with Jason about how we were going to be late and that Tim didn’t want to leave. Jason was very familiar with my occupation and understood the situation completely. I do recall Jason giving me a big chuckle because of the predicament I had gotten myself into.

As we were standing there, Jason opened his hatch back. To my surprise there sitting in his hatch back were at least thirty bundles of left over newspaper ads from Jason’s delivery that day (I think you all are quite aware of Tim’s love/obsession for magazines and newspapers). At that very moment Tim’s eyes lit up and a sound of great jubilation filled the air, Tim leaped into the hatch back grabbing and toppling over almost every stack of ads in Jason’s hatch back. Jason and I reacted with mouth dropping awes, then into stomach clenching laughs. Chaos was topped by more chaos and it was time for us to go. “Jason the Boy Scout” that he was, took one side of Tim and I the other, and assisted Tim into the CCP van along with Tim’s bundle of newspaper ads. Tim and I arrived at CCP with only a few minutes to spare and to this day, I continue to share our humorous story with others. Jason was a very generous man, and I know he will happily supply Tim with bundles of newspaper in heaven.  I miss Tim and Jason, and hope they will continue their friendship in the beyond.

Sincerely,

Judy Ray