Annie, Jessie and Casey this is terrible news, Cindie, Emmaline and I are heartbroken. Emmaline came down stairs on Monday evening I was dozing off in my chair and Cindie in hers watching TV when she gave us the news, seen it on Facebook, Casey's Page. I couldn't believer what I was hearing. Our hearts go out to you and the family. Cindie and I had the great pleasure of meeting, working and hanging around with Jason back in the early 80s in Ottawa. Working with Jason was a hoot, each and every day. I can remember especially one day we (that was all us Ptes) were in a training session down in hanger 4 and there was an MWO teaching us all something about the trade, cannot remember what it was but it was something important at the time... Jason and I were at the back of the classroom with a couple of other guys, cannot remember who else was there, Jason was giggling away as he did so often and wasn't paying close attention to the MWO up at the front. The MWO cautioned Jason more than once to pipe down, but Jason couldn't help himself giggling away again and again. All of a sudden, the MWO turned and chucked a pencil across the room at Jason I think he hit him in the forehead, young Jason tightened right up and just about ran up to the front to get into it with the MWO, but he held back as I was holding his arm telling him to ease up. Next day we were up in Chief Legault's office, one of Jason's best friends, not-LOL. Then turn the page to 2008 (27 years later) Jason and I are now the Chief and MWO in Halifax. Jason and I used to have a good laugh watching our young Ptes getting into trouble, little did they know what both Jason and I were like at their age... wink wink. We had a great 2 years together Jason and I, one of my best old buddies, and I was fortunate to have him by my side making me look good as my fleet manager. Jason was one of the best, if not the best, fleet guys in the trade at that time. I remember when I got promoted and posted to Halifax as a new Chief, a little stressed I was. I think it was Eli, he can correct me if I'm wrong but I'm sure it was him, he said to me, "Ronnie, biggest thing about Halifax is managing the fleet, if you have a good fleet guy you're set, and you are set because you have a guy by the name of Jason Johnson as the fleet guy." A big grin came across my face as it is doing right now as I type this script. Those 2 years were likely the best 2 years of my career being there with my old buddy Jason. Fridays were the best, especially being on a Navy base and getting Friday coffee breaks at the Chief's and PO's Mess, buns and homemade chowder (some good) introduced to me by Jason, then in the afternoons on Friday we'd ring each other up at about 2:30 identify one of a million pubs in town, we'd meet there for a pint and we'd talk and laugh about the past week. You're at peace now old buddy, I will miss you dearly, rest up and I promise I'll see you on the other side, I know you'll have a frosty one waiting for me and we'll laugh again about the old times, love ya man, cheers. Ron, Cindie and Emmaline.
