Rebecca Ann (Blatchford) Johnson

Rebecca A. Johnson, PhD, RN, FAAN, 68, Columbia, Missouri resident, died peacefully at her home, May 4th , 2024.  She was. born April 9th , 1956 in Belvidere, Illinois.

She began her lifelong learning by graduating from Belvidere High School in 1974, receiving a baccalaureate degree in nursing from the University of Dubuque, Iowa in 1980, Masters of Philosophy degree from the University of Edinburgh, Scotland in 1982 (as a Rotary Foundation Scholar), and doctorate from the University of Iowa in 1992.

She began her academic teaching career at Northern Illinois University in 1992 before joining the University of Missouri Sinclair School of Nursing (SSON) in August 1999 as the Millsap Professor of Gerontological Nursing and Public Policy.  Shortly thereafter was given a joint appointment as associate professor in the college of Veterinary Medicine (CVM) for her research on human and animal- interaction.  She was promoted to full professor in the CVM and SSON in 2012.

While in Missouri, Rebecca established the Research Center for Human Animal Interaction (ReCHAI) in 2005.  As an externally funded program of research and community projects ReCHAI merged her work in gerontology with the benefits of human-companion and animal interaction.  Research included intervention studies of human-animal interaction with veterans, older adults, prison inmates and children.

The author of many scholarly publications in peer-reviewed journals and books, she presented her research findings nationally and internationally.  In 2011 she had two books published by Purdue University Press:  Walk a Hound, Lose a Pound, Stay Fit, and Have Fun Together and The Health Benefits of Dog-Walking.  In 2005 she was named the University of Missouri’s William H. Byler Distinguished Professor.  She served as president of the International Association of Human-Animal Interaction Organizations, a global umbrella organization of more than 40 organizations, in 2013 she was elected to the National Academies of Practice (NAP) and the Veterinary Medicine Academy (VMA) as a distinguished scholar and fellow.  Prominently featured in pictures with her academic work and during presentations was her Gordon Setter, McCallum (Callie) Johnson.

Known as a very strong woman, with a take charge and get things done leadership style, she was fond of calling her style a ‘force of nature’.  Anyone could also see her lifelong love of animals.  She cherished family; her siblings, nieces and nephews and their families, traveling many miles to be with them on holidays.

Rebecca was also passionate about cars…especially fast ones, acquiring a Ford Mustang at age 16 to her late model Corvette convertible.  Heading off to work at the University, in the early morning hours neighbors were roused by a loud, throaty Vette backing out of her garage.  Adding a little spice to this, she could be found wearing her Corvette logo red leather jacket.  She was President of the Mid Missouri Corvette Club for several years and enjoyed caravaning with fellow Vette owners.

She loved gardening and learning about plants from her dear late friend Mary Hale of Galena, Illinois, collecting flowers all over the Midwest.  She enjoyed traveling with her work and often stayed longer on business trips just for the adventure.  She enjoyed tennis in her later years for the competition and friendship.  And, given her education in Scotland, enjoyed all things Scottish.  So much so that she provided resources in her estate for loved ones to travel to Scotland to scatter her cremains in the water off the Isle of Harris.  She gave effortlessly and endlessly to so many groups.  She spent the last few years with her dear friend Thomas Syverson, who cared for her in sickness and in health.

She will be missed dearly.  She is survived by her “independent Scottish Lass Callie, caregiver and dear friend Thomas Syverson, of Lenexa, KS her brothers: Bruce (Kathi) Blatchford of Coloma MI, Gary (Betty) Blatchford of Belvidere IL, her nieces & nephews, Steve( Mark) Bruns of Peoria, Janet(Bob) Blatchford, Chris (Sarah) Blatchford, Kelly (Rich) Blatchford-Lusz, Katie (Tony) Blatchford-DiNicola all of Belvidere, IL–& Kent (Danielle) Blatchford of Roscoe, IL.  Also survived by many great nieces and nephews as well as 2 great -great nieces.

She is predeceased by her mother, father and 4 nephews. 

To those willing, a memorial donation to ReCHI, an organization Rebecca gave so much of herself to, would be appreciated in her name in lieu of flowers.

A Celebration of Life open house will be held at Rebecca’s home at 4120 Town Square Dr, Columbia, MO from 1-4 pm Sunday May 19, 2024.  A brief sharing of memories will take place at 2pm.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Rebecca Ann (Blatchford) Johnson, please visit our floral store.