David Lee Johnson

David Lee 'Diamond Dave' Johnson, 40, of Belle Vernon died Monday, February 23, 2009 after a lengthy illness in Mon Valley Care Center. A son of the late Darel L. and Barbara Murray Johnson, he was born in Sandusky, Ohio on June 3, 1968. He was a member of the First Christian Church of Belle Vernon, the N. Belle Vernon Volunteer Fire Department and was a former Belle Vernon Borough councilman. Dave worked for many nursing facilities and home health agencies throughout the valley as a certified nursing assistant and as an EMT for local ambulance services. A graduate of the Southern Umpiring School in Georgia, was a certified PIAA high school baseball and girls softball umpire since 1995. He was a member of the McKeesport Umpire Association and was selected to umpire the Pony League World Series in 1997. He umpired Girls Summer Fast-Pitch softball and the Fayette County American Legion games for many years and was very active in the Mon Valley Umpires Association where he officiated both Pony and Colt League games. Dave was invited to Dreams Park in Cooperstown, NY where he was inducted into the Umpire's Hall of Fame. He was a former coach for the Fayette City Bulldogs and led them to a winning season, and was a football referee working with various midget football programs. Survivors include one daughter, Chloe Paige Johnson of Charleroi, one brother, Brian Johnson of Belle Vernon, his special friend and companion, Christine Taylor of Charleroi, his step mother, June Johnson of Washington Twp., one step sister and brother-in-law, April and Chad Williams, one step niece, Kelsey Kearns, all of Belle Vernon, many aunts, uncles, cousins and friends and his faithful dog, Pepper. At Dave's request, there will be no public visitation. A memorial service will be Saturday, February 28 at 10:30 A.M. in the First Christian Church, Main Street, Belle Vernon with Rev. Don Bowers officiating. Private interment will be in Belle Vernon Cemetery. The Ferguson Funeral Home and Crematory, Inc., (724-929-5300), www.FergusonFuneralHomeAndCrematory.com, 700 Broad Avenue, Belle Vernon is handling arrangements.

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David Lee Johnson

June 3, 1968 - February 23, 2009