Paul Shirley Johnston

Paul Shirley Johnston III passed from this phase of life on April 25, 2024, at the La Posada Mesilla Valley Hospice with his family at his side.

He was born September 2, 1965, in Las Cruces, NM to Paul Shirley Johnston Jr. and Eddith Lorene Cunningham Johnston. Paul was raised in Las Cruces. He studied at the New Mexico Military Institute (NMMI) in Roswell, NM for 2 years then returned to Las Cruces. He graduated from Mayfield High School in 1984, after which he joined the U.S. Navy. He served mainly in the Pacific region and in Desert Shield Operations. He served in the Navy Reserves for four years after his years of active-duty service.

After leaving the service he studied at New Mexico State University. Later he helped his mother establish the family home in Las Cruces, where he lived for several years. He was a truck driver during that time, doing long haul trucking all over the country.

He moved to Silver City briefly before moving to Morenci, AZ. There he worked at the Freeport McMoran Morenci Operations mine. He was a haul truck driver, a heavy equipment operator, and a safety trainer there. He worked there for the last 17 years. He loved his work and was always an outdoor man. Every chance he got he hunted, fished, and spent as much time as possible enjoying nature. He was an avid and expert shooter, learning the skill from his father and enjoying it throughout his life. He participated in many shooting matches and was on the NMMI shooting team. Paul earned his Eagle Scout after a childhood in Boy Scouts and was an expert woodsman.

Paul loved cats and raised three from birth over his lifetime, Shasta and Squeeky, both of whom lived about 20 years and Felix.

He was married first to his son’s mother, Robin Paul, then in later years to Kim Beckstead.

Paul is survived by his mother, Lorene Johnston, sister Celestia Babcock, and son Marshall Paul, as well as his beloved cat Felix. He was preceded in death by his father. Paul Shirley Johnston III