Paul Curtis Johnson was born January 13, 1953 at Good Samaritan Hospital in Phoenix, AZ to Anne and Paul Johnson. He joined his older brother Clyde. Eventually there would be another brother, Clark, and a sister, Cindy, joining the family. You may have notice the 4 “C” names…like the 4 “C”s of diamonds and that’s exactly why they were named that way. If you’ve lived in Arizona for long, you’re probably familiar with Paul Johnson Jewelers. They were the premier jewelers in Arizona for decades and were the favorite jewelers of celebrities both living in the state and around the country. Curtis attended Madison Rose Lane and then Central High School. His most vivid memory of grade school was standing up to the crosswalk guard who was a bully to the younger and smaller kids. His favorite memories of high school centered around cars. (shocking, right?) He started saving money to buy a car when he was 14 and bought his first car at 15, a 1954 Dodge Royal. His love for cars quickly became his most important extracurricular activity throughout high school. He worked as an orderly in a nursing home to support his love of cars. He spent his adult life working in 2 areas…jewelry and cars. He was a 4th generation jeweler who went to the GIA for classes for his professional degrees. Most of his life he worked as a jeweler for Paul Johnson Jewelers, but also worked for many high end and exotic auto dealers. He met many celebrities through both these professions, which he truly loved and gave great fodder for his storytelling. Curtis married his first wife, Kathy, and they had 2 much loved children, Paul and JoAnna. By this time, Curtis was all about racing Ferrari’s. They traveled to races, with Curtis racing when possible and being involved in the Ferrari Owners Club where he made many friends, the most special friendship being with the actor Clint Eastwood. A few years later he met Lita, who would become his second wife for the next 33 years. They had 2 greatly loved sons, Andrew and Timothy. He also “adopted” Lita’s daughter Sarah, considering her his daughter from the first time she crawled up on his lap and called him Daddy. He also embraced Lita’s son, Casey and daughter, Jenni, as his beloved stepchildren. Curtis also had 9 grandchildren and 4 godchildren he treated like grandchildren. He loved them all so much and bragged about them endlessly and they loved him. Curtis and Lita continued to be involved in Ferrari racing, as well as vacationing, usually to California, to the beach, their favorite place to go, especially when they were joined by their kids and grandkids. Curtis and Lita went through the Cursillo program and went on to be very active in both Tirosh and Chayah Christian retreat programs for youth. Curtis was especially proud of his involvement with multiple programs to help at-risk youth including those incarcerated at Adobe Mountain and local LGBT programs. Curtis finished his professional life working for Schmitt Jewelers for over 20 years. He considered them family and felt blessed to be within the circle of this special family. At the end of his life, he was so thankful for Hospice of the Valley for caring for him. And he was so touched at the gentle, loving care given by his daughter, Sarah Stockton, and his daughter-in-law, Brianna Hiltz and son, Andrew Johnson. And also for the care they gave Lita who had her own health challenges at the same time. He counted every day as a gift from God. He wanted to tell everyone to take the trip now, eat dessert first, never miss the chance to tell people how much you love them and how proud you are of them. Live each day like it could be your last. Because it just might be. Curtis never missed a chance to tell people he loved them and was proud of them and thankful to them for helping him out. Be like Curtis.