James Donald Johnson, better known as Don or Wheeler, age 69, of Sparta, passed away April 7, 2025, at Alive Hospice Rutherford.
Don was born April 12, 1955, in Cookeville, to Wheeler B. and Eula Mae Massa Johnson.
He worked as a mechanic for over 40 years, serving many years at Edd Rogers Chevrolet before retiring from Woodford Motors, in Cookeville. In his younger years, he enjoyed hunting and fishing, but he always loved working on cars and working in his shed at home.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his sister, Carolyn Clark DeBerry; special brother, George Gribble; and nephews, Freddie Clark and Tommy Clark.
Survivors include his wife, Patricia Johnson, of Sparta; daughter he never had, Autumn Frazier, of Sparta; nephew, Eddie (Phyllis) Clark, of Cookeville; nieces, Mary Margaret Clark Young, of Sparta, Ruthie (Darryl) Nelson, of Rickman; great-nephews, Jake (Taylor) Young, of Sparta, Clark Nelson, of Rickman; and great-nieces, Katie Nelson, of Rickman, Elizabeth Clark, of Sparta.
Funeral service was 1 p.m., April 10, 2025, at Hunter Funeral Home, with burial in Oak Lawn Cemetery. Jonathan Burns officiated.
Jake Young, C.J. Stone, Billy Johnson, Murphy Welch, Dallas Hutson, and Chad Fisher served as pallbearers.
Hunter Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.
