Ralph Joel Johnson, 71, of Sylva, died peacefully at home on March 12, 2026, surrounded by his loving family. Born on January 17, 1955, in Fort Bragg, North Carolina, he was raised in Charlotte and graduated from Independence High School. He attended Clemson University and began his career in land surveying in 1978. In 1997, he became a licensed land surveyor, and in 2002 he opened Joel Johnson Land Surveying in Sylva. Passionate about his profession, Joel mentored many in the field and served as advisor to Southwestern Community College’s surveying and engineering technology program. He was named North Carolina’s Surveyor of the Year in 2019, served for many years as president of the Nantahala chapter of the N.C. Society of Surveyors, and was president of the statewide organization in 2013.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Anna Lee Haga Johnson and Ralph Duncan Johnson, Jr. Joel is survived by his wife of 33 years, Marcia Boyd Johnson; two daughters, Ashley Allen (Patrick Reams) of Jonesboro, Arkansas, and Lauren Allen (Ryan Beshears) of Whitsett; and two grandsons, Jack Reams and Beckett Beshears. He is also survived by two sisters, Joy Holshouser (Rick) of John’s Island, South Carolina, and Jacqueline Johnson of Arrowsic, Maine; two nephews, Clint Myers and Steven Holshouser; and two nieces, Maggie Friedman and Caroline McKeon.
He will be remembered as a loving husband, caring brother, devoted father, and fun-loving grandpa.
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