Michael Allen Johnson, 67, of Hickory, owner of Mike Johnson's Hickory Toyota and the Tack Automotive Group, passed away after a valiant battle with Parkinson's disease and Lewy body dementia on Sunday, June 28, 2026.

Mike was born on June 5, 1959, in Atlanta, Georgia, to the late Allen Suiel Johnson and Barbara Thomas Johnson Kyle.

Mike was raised in Georgia by his parents until the loss of his father at the age of 10. His mother later married Ronald K. Kyle, who became a devoted father figure and an important influence throughout Mike's life.

A gifted athlete, Mike earned numerous honors as a high school football player and received a football scholarship to the University of Kentucky. After an injury ended his time there, he continued both his education and football career at the University of Tennessee at Martin, where he met the love of his life, Carman. Following his graduation, Mike and Carman married and began their life together in Jackson, Mississippi, where Mike launched his career in the retail automotive industry.

Mike later joined Southeast Toyota Distributors in Deerfield Beach, Florida, where he spent more than a decade serving Toyota dealers throughout the Southeast. In 1999, he fulfilled his dream of business ownership by purchasing Larry Smith Toyota in Hickory, North Carolina. Through hard work, integrity, and an unwavering commitment to people, he transformed the dealership into a thriving business built on treating associates, customers, and the community like family.

Throughout his distinguished career, Mike served as Chairman of the Southeast Toyota Dealer Council, the National Toyota Dealer Committee, and the North Carolina Automobile Dealers Association. He was honored as the 2017 TIME Magazine Dealer of the Year and received North Carolina's highest civilian honor, the Order of the Long Leaf Pine, in recognition of his extraordinary service to the state and his community.

His leadership also included serving as President of the Catawba County Chamber of Commerce and the Hickory Rotary Club, as well as Commissioner of the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission. Mike generously supported countless organizations, including the Hickory Police Department, Meals on Wheels, the Hickory Soup Kitchen, Cooperative Christian Ministry, Safe Harbor of NC, Special Olympics, local schools, youth athletics, the YMCA, Lenoir-Rhyne University, and Wingate University.

While Mike was deeply proud of his professional accomplishments and community service, nothing brought him greater joy than being a husband, father, and grandfather. An avid outdoorsman who loved hunting and fishing with family and friends, he treasured every opportunity to be with those he loved. He never missed the chance to cheer on his four sons throughout their collegiate football careers and later celebrated as one fulfilled the dream of playing in the NFL. His greatest legacy is not found in the awards he received or the businesses he built, but in the love he gave his family, the lives he touched, and the example he set through faith, generosity, humility, and unwavering devotion to others.

Those left to cherish his memory include his loving wife of 43 years, Carman Lashlee Johnson; four sons, Tyler Johnson (Emily), Austin Johnson (Chelsea), Clay Johnson (Haley), and Kyle Johnson (Danielle); grandchildren, Ricki, Jennings, Gibson, Gatlin, Magnolia Belle, Jones, Lennon, Georgia, Jessie, Kane, and Kemper; great-granddaughter, Romi; sister, Janet Keene (Ray); and many beloved nieces and nephews.

A Celebration of Life will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Friday, July 17, 2026, at Corinth Reformed Church, 150 16th Avenue NW, Hickory, NC, with Pastor Nick Perrin officiating. A reception will follow at Lake Hickory Country Club from 3:30 p.m. until 5:00 p.m.

The family completely understands if you are unable to attend, and your absence is not a reflection of your love or respect for Mike. He cared far more about the memories you shared than whether you were able to be in the room one last time. Please think of him, share a story, or raise a toast in his honor—that would have meant the world to him.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made in Mike's honor to the Fellowship of Christian Athletes and Samaritan's Purse

https://my.fca.org/?form=mikejohnsonmemorialfund

https://www.samaritanspurse.org/memorial-page/mike-johnson-hickory-nc/

Condolences may be shared with the family by visiting the Memorial Wall at www.jenkinsfuneralhome.net.

The Johnson family has entrusted arrangements to Jenkins Funeral Home and Cremation Service, 4081 Startown Road, Newton, NC 28658. For additional information, please call (828) 464-1555.