Jesse "Corby" Johnson

Jesse Corbett "Corby" Johnson of Goldthwaite, TX, departed for his Heavenly Home with Jesus on November 16, 2023, following a brief illness. Born to Alfred T. and Bonnie Duke Johnson in Houston on April 7, 1959, Corby was 64. He is survived by his older sister, Athena Jo "Tina" Blackmon, her husband, Brent, and their children of Tulsa, OK, his older brother, A.T. "Teddy" Johnson of Junction, TX, his younger sister, Veronica Johnson of Junction, TX, and his Aunt, Faye Maddox of Midland, TX, and numerous cousins, nieces and nephews that loved him buncher and will miss him much. Corby made friends easily. He had a quick wit and irrepressible sense of humor. His personality and charisma charmed everyone he met. He was a true "Pied Piper" and those who knew him would follow him anywhere. He found Jesus, becoming saved as an adult and finding joy and comfort in the Bible and prayer. Corby grew up in Hobbs, NM, and graduated from Hobbs High in 1977. He worked in the oil fields at a young age, but soon found the passion of his life, physical fitness and muscular development. He pursued a career in health and fitness, becoming a competitive bodybuilder, personal coach and trainer, health club manager, fitness entrepreneur, and fitness model and celebrity spokesperson. Together with the owners of SoloFlex, Corby's functional physiology expertise, image, smile, personality and physique launched one of the first and most successful all-in-one home gym concepts. His physique and winning smile became the centerpiece of their marketing campaign for several years, and Corby was recognized nationwide while SoloFlex received much acclaim. In spite of his devotion to health and fitness, Corby began a lifelong battle with adult-onset diseases that threatened his life, starting with cancer in 1985. He had a long recovery from surgery and chemotherapy. Although he fully recovered, the treatment took a toll on his health. He was able to regain much of the muscle and strength he had lost, but the stress of the cancer treatment resulted in organ damage that continued to plague him for the rest of his life. Except for his exceptional strength, spirit and determination to live, any of the ailments might have taken him sooner. Corby was a devoted husband for 17 years, moving often to pursue various opportunities. He moved to Junction to care for his ailing father in 2014 and then retired to Goldthwaite in 2016 . Corby found the love and comfort from his sister, her husband and their kids, as well as from his cousins, and their families, a close group of friends in his retirement community, and his beloved companion "Chiquita" that sustained him until his death. He is loved deeply and will be missed by all who were blessed by his presence in their lives. The family will have a memorial service and celebration of his life on Friday, December 8, at 11:00 am at First Baptist Church, 1319 Fisher St., Goldthwaite, TX 76844.

Jesse "Corby" Johnson

April 7, 1959 - November 16, 2023