Obituary: Leon Johnson, Track & Field 60-61, Student Coach 61-63

Charlie Leon Johnson

August 5, 1939 — June 17, 2025

A celebration of life will be held for Coach Charlie Leon Johnson of Natchitoches, LA on Sunday, June 22, at 3:00pm in Magale Recital Hall in the Fine Arts Building on the campus of Northwestern State University with internment following at American Cemetery. Visitation is scheduled for Saturday, June 21, 5:00-8:00pm at Blanchard St. Denis Funeral Home. 

Leon was born in Elmore City, Oklahoma on August 5, 1939. He graduated from Elmore City High School in 1958. He attended University of Southwestern Louisiana graduating in 1963 with a Bachelor’s Degree in Health & Physical Education. While attending school at USL he met Daphne Elaine Waters, and they married on December 27, 1963.

Coach Leon Johnson had a long and highly successful, 52-year career teaching, coaching, and mentoring young men and women. He taught and coached at Grand Valley High School in Grand Valley (Parachute), Colorado, Opelousas High School in Opelousas, Louisiana, DeRidder High School in DeRidder, Louisiana, retiring from Northwestern State University in 2013 after an extraordinary service of 31 years as Track and Field Head Coach.

He was a devoted member of the Grand Ecore Church of Christ where he served as a Deacon for four decades. He was also a proud member and supporter of Fellowship of Christian Athletes throughout his teaching and coaching career and was a devoted, long-term supporter and volunteer for Special Olympics. Leon was a proud member of the Walter Ledet Coffee Club.

He is welcomed into Heaven by his parents Cecil and Liliian Pense Johnson, his brother Cecil Dale Johnson, sisters Jesse Ruth Johnson, Betty Sue Johnson Mercer and his infant daughter, Margaret Johnson. He is survived by his wife of 61 years, Daphne Elaine Waters Johnson of Natchitoches, his son Charlie Dean Johnson of Natchitoches, his son Kendon Thad Johnson of Columbus, GA, his daughter Darla (Don) Gauthier of Many, LA and his daughter Molly (Lance) Fouts of Shreveport, LA. Granddaughters: Loren (Bryce) Cain, Keagan (Kacey) Peterson, Lindsay Johnson, Morgan (Matt) Durr, Lillie Johnson, and Laney Fouts. Grandsons: Devon Gauthier, Liam Fouts, and Keller Fouts, and ten great-grandchildren who consider him to be the most exceptional example of a wise and Godly man.  Also survived by his brother, Roy (Wayne) Johnson, and sisters Laflora Jones, Patricia Scroggins, and Glenda (Michael) English.

Serving as Pallbearers are his grandchildren Devon Gauthier, Liam Fouts, Charlie Keller Fouts, Kacey Petersen, Bryce Cain, and Matt Durr. Honorary Pallbearers are the members of the Walter Ledet Coffee Club.

The family would like to extend their heartfelt appreciation to The Courtyard of Natchitoches for the many years of care and love for him, Natchitoches Hospice, Northwestern State University and the NSU Athletic Department. Especially all of his former athletes who have been extremely supportive, dear friends who have loved our Daddy over the years just as much as we do.

In lieu of flowers the family requests donations be made to the Leon Johnson Track Scholarship through the Demons Unlimited Foundation.

To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Charlie Leon Johnson, please visit our flower store.

Athletic Network Footnote: Leon was a classmate for four years in HPE and almost all of our classes were taken together. He devoted himself to track when an injury sidelined him and was one of Bob Cole’s strongest student coaches. Quite, yet a deep-thinker, one could not help by like Leon’s company. He had an awesome work ethic and it was strengthened by him when he moved to higher levels of competition. He had a highly successful coaching career motivated by his love of Track & Field and the performance of young athletics. My condolences to Leon, Elaine, his family, teammates and friends.
Please place Johnson in the “Last Name” Box at www.athleticnetwork.net and view his outstanding coaching recognitions and experiences. This was submitted by Elaine and is extensive, giving a more complete picture of his passion and dedication for Track & Field, young athletes, family, and many more areas of life. Also, click Photo Gallery > Track and Field > then the 1960-63 years for those team photos.