of Maumelle, AR

April 3, 1946 - April 7, 2023

A best friend is a gift to cherish forever. It is a special bond that crosses the boundaries of time and distance. Time passes, but a best friend is a constant in a world of change. Like a fine wine or vintage car, our friendship/love gets better with age. Life may have its ups and downs but our shared dreams continue. I never thanked you enough. I don't know where I'm going to be without my best friend. Your loving wife of 40 years, Stacy.

Johnny Angell (77) of Maumelle, passed away on April 7, 2023 from a fall while collecting branches at a friend's home affected by the recent tornado. Known for his all-encompassing kindness to both people and animals, Johnny and his wife, Stacy, are best known as two of the original founders of FuRR (Feline Rescue and Rehome) which has helped thousands of cats in Arkansas. Johnny and Stacy themselves have adopted dozens of felines over the years. Human or animal, it didn't make any difference; Johnny always tried to help those in need.

Johnny was born in Chula Vista, CA in 1946 to Johnny and Bessie Angell. He grew up behind his Father's Grocery Store, Angell's Garden Spot. While his father and mother were working in the store, he was raised by the youngest of his 3 sisters, Lila. Johnny adored Lila and considered her his second mother.

Johnny served in the Army from 1968 to 1971 mainly in Thailand and Germany and went on to pursue his education at Southwestern College. He found success as a programmer for Dataminer, and in 1981, he joined San Diego Federal Savings and Loan. There he met his future wife, Stacy and married at the same place his parents wed-Little Chapel of the Roses in Glen Abbey Memorial Park. Yes, a cemetery! Quite fitting as one of his favorite pastimes was watching kitschy SiFi and horror films, his favorite being ''The Creature from the Black Lagoon.'' Johnny's ashes will also be buried there in May next to his mother and father. Those wishing to attend the gravesite goodbye in California are welcome to do so.

In 1992, Johnny and Stacy moved to Arkansas accompanied by an impressive entourage of nine cats and two cockateels. Soon they both worked at Systematics where they found lifelong friends.

Johnny's love of cats started with Sam, back before he met Stacy. Sam was the assistant manager of the apartment complex Johnny was managing. One cool cat! Johnny then adopted two Sable Burmese cats, Henry and Kate. Henry was later named King Henry I. Stacy and Johnny lost Henry, before moving to AR, but his sister Kate, flew with them in the cabin.

Johnny and Stacy helped found FuRR in 2002, but rescued their first Arkansas cat Squiggles in 1994. Squiggles was 2 days old and in a dumpster. From there their passion for animal welfare and rescue began and they housed, adopted and fostered hundreds of cats/kittens. Even after they both left the FuRR Board, Stacy continues to volunteer where she can and Johnny would always be there to give guidance and advice. If it was up to Johnny, they would still have 30 cats and several dogs. But as age and time goes on their numbers have dwindled. Johnny always believed that if an animal needs to pass that someone should be there to tell it that they were loved in the end and would be missed. Johnny and Stacy always did this with every animal they ever had.
 
Johnny retired in July 2001, but Stacy continued to work for what was Systematics (now FIS) and they transferred for a year to Florida. When Stacy's career changed in 2006, Johnny and she moved back to Maumelle and made a whole set of new and crazy friends. These included the Arkansas Free Thinkers, new running friends, and many, many Facebook and Next-Door friends.
He also met his best friend Stephen Boyle, his (curmudgeon) next door neighbor. Stacy and Johnny met Stephen in 2006 when they moved in next door. Stacy walked in and told Johnny we have an actual curmudgeon living next door. Then, Stacy met Marilyn and both Steve and Marilyn became best friends. Johnny and Stacy would often laugh at how Stacy came in with the introduction of Steve.

Johnny was known for his adventurous spirit, evidenced by his passion for snow skiing, white water rafting, photography, scuba diving, baseball, and running. Johnny loved baseball. While in San Diego he, Stacy and Stacy's mother had season seats with their friends John and Karen Field. Johnny would make his famous wine punch and tail gate until the games started. He also acquired numerous running medals and even won first place for his age group in the LR 10K in 2015. In the 2000's, he became a master pumpkin carver of 150 to 200 lb. pumpkins. This is where his love for film monsters and dinosaurs flourished and was soon recognized by local news. He even continued to carve through his cancer in 2017 and 2018. However, Johnny carved his last large pumpkins in 2019, due to his failing health from Parkinson's and other issues. However, he still tried to stay busy with other art projects. In 2022, he learned to carve faux pumpkins. They were much lighter to handle and much smaller. However, they were still on display for Halloween and the people came back to see his work. Stacy was very proud of him.

Last February, Johnny made a prototype of a metal butterfly sculpture he was crafting in honor of his and Stacy's 40th anniversary. Inside the butterfly wing, Johnny placed a ''J heart S.'' It took him months with his Parkinson's, but he was determined to make something special for his beloved Stacy.

Johnny was a master of trivia. He often won Trivial Pursuit as he and Stacy would play often with John and Karen. Johnny knew a little about everything especially movies and especially old SiFi and horror movies. However, Johnny loved all movies and good TV shows. Once watched he could tell you almost anything about them.

Johnny and Stacy, when they were in San Diego, loved to take their Miata for long drives and especially loved going up into the Laguna Mountains to Julian for their famous apple pie.

Johnny loved finer things in life. Johnny and Stacy would collect wine for years and had wine tasting parties with their friends Ray and Susie Barlow, John Brady and others. Johnny also became a lover of Cognac (thanks to Stacy's father), Tequila, Scotch and Bourbon.

It is said that Johnny is one of the kindest men anyone ever met. A truer statement has never been made. It did not make any difference if it was human or animal Johnny always tried to help those in need.

Johnny is survived by his wife Stacy Weaver; brother David Angell; nieces Kristin Angell, Kelly Angell, Kathy Bradley, Jody Heath, and Becky Litteral; and nephews Jon Angell, Mark Dumas, Clyde Dumas, and Dan Heath. Johnny was preceded in death by his parents and his sisters Mary, Alice, and Lila.

A celebration of Johnny's life will be held at Roller-Drummond Funeral Home at 10900 Interstate 30 in Little Rock on Friday, May 5th, 5 pm. We ask that attendees dress as Johnny liked to dress casually in t-shirts with a monster, octopus, dragon, or other animal and perhaps a snarky comment! In lieu of flowers, donations can be made at The Boulevard Veterinary Clinic 10500 Maumelle Blvd, North Little Rock, AR 72113 for the ongoing care of Johnny's pets or to the Little Rock Tornado Relief fund or to Community Cats of Central AR for tornado pets. You can also remember him by doing a kindness daily, albeit, human or furry.

Johnny will be laid to rest next to his Father and Mother at Glen Abbey Memorial Park, 3838 Bonita Rd, Bonita, CA., just south of San Diego. If anyone wants to be at the burial, it will be held on May, 11, 2023 at 1 pm. Again, attendees are asked to dress casually, as stated above.

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