William Joseph Johnson, Jr., age 79, known to his family and friends as BJ, joined his Lord and Savior and Beloved Wife, on February 3, 2012 in Plano. He was born on April 12, 1932 in Staten Island, New York, to William Joseph and Jane (Clarke) Johnson. After his studies at Mount Assumption Private School, he served as an MP in the Army, during the Korean War. After his service to his Country, BJ met the love of his life, Sarah DeMaio, and the couple married on January 22, 1955 in Brooklyn, New York. They were blessed with five children and raised them in Long Island, NY. BJ started his career as a General Manager for Allied Airlines. After 34 years of employment he felt that Texas was where he should be. He liked the name of a little unknown town called, “Plano”, and moved his family in October, 1979. Texas brought with it a new career as a General Contractor and in later years, and up to his passing, BJ was a professional Santa Model; offering his time year after year to Children’s Hospitals’ and the Ronald McDonald house. He was also featured, as Santa, in several ‘popular’ retail publications. Even the nursing staff and doctors, who cared for him his last year of illness, called him ‘Santa.’ Acting as ‘Santa’ was certainly his alter ego; and quite often the two egos would blur and you couldn’t tell BJ from Santa. As a devote Catholic, and previous Alter boy, BJ was a Knights of Columbus Santa Maria Council 6065 and a member of St. Marks Catholic Church, in Plano. BJ loved sports; namely Baseball and the New York Yankees. BJ actually skipped school and snuck in to Yankee Stadium to hear Babe Ruth’s famous goodbye speech. He used to play football with his friends in the field that is now the home to the new Yankee Stadium. BJ also enjoyed old movies, fishing and loved to spend time on his boat. He is survived by his five children: His daughter, Deborah Derych and her husband, Tom of Holbrook, New York; son, William Joseph Johnson III of Plano, Texas; daughter, Josephine Roehrig and her husband, Rick of Plano, Texas; daughter, Maryanne Bennett and her husband, Rob of Frisco, Texas; son, Joey Johnson; grandchildren, Lisa, Tommy, Krissy, Nicki, Tyler, Ricky, Joseph, Jacob, Hunter, Angelina, Sarah and Victoria; great-grandchildren, Dylan and Kaylee; sister, Trudie Lomma of Edgewater, Florida and his dog, Angel. BJ is preceded in death by his parents and his wife, Sarah. The family will receive friends at a Visitation to be held at Turrentine-Jackson-Morrow Funeral Home, 8520 Main Street, Frisco, TX, from 12-2PM and 6-9 PM on Monday, February 6, 2012; with a service by the Knights of Columbus Santa Maria Council 6065 at 7PM. A Funeral Mass will be held on Tuesday, February 7, 2012 at St. Marks Catholic Church, 1201 Alma Drive, Plano, TX, at 10:00 AM. Interment will be held at Calverton National Cemetery in Calverton, New York. Donations in BJ’s name can be made to St Jude Children’s Hospital, Dallas, TX or the Ronald McDonald house at 4707 Bengal Street, Dallas, TX, 75235.