Joseph William “Joe” Johnson, well-known walking horse and hunting dog trainer, passed away unexpectedly March 14, 2004. He was 64. Johnson was born Dec. 4, 1939, in Fayette County, the son of the late Lorraine Taylor Johnson.

Johnson enjoyed a lifelong love for horses and hunting dogs. He was well-known as an outdoorsman and enjoyed sharing his talents with others. He was the owner and operator of Johnson Stables, the Quail Brand Tack Shop and Shaw Creek Hunting Club.

Johnson also enjoyed crafting leather specialty items for his horse and dog owners. Always quick with a joke or story, he endeared himself to many as a friend and was respected by people from all walks of life. His Shaw Creek Hunting Club had been a landmark for many years bringing sportsmen together for numerous events throughout the years.

Johnson was well-known throughout the Tennessee Walking Horse industry as an expert horseman. He was a breeder, trainer and farrier. Johnson is best remembered for his years spent at GLL Farms in Collierville, Tenn., where he began in 1964. He became highly respected for his abilities as a stallion manager. He managed the breeding career of 1964 world grand champion GLL’s Carbon Copy. Other stallions managed during Johnson’s career were Mack K’s Handshaker, Sensational Shadow, Copy’s Magic Marker, Powered By Generator, Poison, Pushover’s Powerstroke, Stormy Night Of Pride RW and Slate By Design, who was scheduled to begin his breeding career under Johnson’s management during the 2004 breeding season.

Johnson had a special talent for preparing and showing yearling at halter colts for show ring competition. He handled many of Carbon Copy’s offspring and showed may colts at the Tennessee Walking Horse National Celebration. Some of the colts he handled and showed successfully were Copy’s Valentine, Charming Copy, Copy’s Dancer, Skill’s SeeSaw, Fleetwood Mac, Copy’s Riptide, Copy’s Hot Papa, Copy’s Paradin’ Lady, Santana Ana, Sunrise At The Ritz and Botox.

In addition to his wife, Carol Ann Mullins Johnson, he is survived by his daughter, Cindy Weddington; his son, Joseph William Johnson Jr.; and two grandchildren, William Benjamin Johnson and Sara Elizabeth Weddington.

The family requests that memorials be made to the Foreign Mission Fund of the Bellevue Baptist Church, 2000 Appling Road, Memphis, TN 38018.