An infectious smile

EPHRATA — The halls of Ephrata High and Middle schools have seemed a bit dimmer for the last week and a half. Jett Johnson, a sophomore at the high school and son of Heidi Johnson, a math teacher at EMS, died in a car accident the night of Monday, Feb. 19. 

The dimness fades a bit when those who knew Jett, including his mom, speak about him and share the joy he brought to their lives. Throughout multiple interviews with his teachers, coaches and people in the community, every one of them laughed at a memory and noted Jett’s smile and kindness.

“He loved everybody and he could strike up a conversation with you, no matter if you were two or 92,” Heidi said.

Whether it was teasing his mom for being from the “late 1900s” or being a typical little brother to his sisters Jayd Johnson and Kaidyn Noga, Jett always had a mischievous but loving spirit. He often accompanied the family to softball tournaments when he was younger, Heidi said. 

Jett enjoyed spending time with his father, Levi Johnson, a law enforcement officer serving the Coulee City area. Jett would go on ride-alongs to spend more time with his father and the two shared several other interests like lifting weights, fishing, hunting, golfing and other things that are special between a father and son. 

Jett adored his sisters and had a close relationship with his brother-in-law, Kaidyn’s husband, Riley Noga. 

“They had this special little bromance, and they just loved each other and would wrestle, and, I mean, they’re just boys,” Heidi said.

As Jett grew, he fell in love with many sports, but most especially baseball. His favorite team was the Angels and Mike Trout was his favorite player. Having another favorite player, Shohei Ohtani, get traded to the Dodgers last year was hard news, but more than being a fan, it was all about playing whenever he got the chance. 

“Like, he was ready for wrestling to be over just because it meant baseball was next,” Heidi said. 

That didn’t mean Jett didn’t love wrestling. EHS Wrestling coach Joe Knox said Jett loved his team and always pushed to do his best no matter what, often working to inspire his teammates to do their very best as well. 

"Jett was a hard-working, high-energy kid who was liked and respected by all his teammates,” Knox said. “His passion and leadership will be missed.  He always wore a T-Shirt to practice that said ‘Do Hard Sh*t,’ and he lived it, always pushing the boys to press on either through his effort or words, no matter how difficult practice was. The harder practice was, the more he enjoyed it. I will miss him."

Ephrata High Athletic Director Bryan Johnson said baseball started Monday, Feb. 26, and that would be hard for Jett’s teammates to show up without him. He hopes students will value the time they had with their friend, but also learn to appreciate the time they have with others they care about. He hoped the community would continue to offer their support. 

“I mean, the biggest thing is just, it’s hard, and our kids need some support right now,” he said.

When it came down to it, despite wrestling, playing football, swinging a golf club or whatever other sport came his way, Jett’s focus was on baseball, Heidi said. 

Ephrata High Baseball coach David Tempel said Jett was an infielder who always put a lot of energy into the game and one that Tempel loved coaching. Jett played hard and had a team-focused attitude that lifted his teammates up and kept them pushing to be better players. He showed up to every day of practice with a smile and drive. 

“His smile was infectious. He always saw the bright side of things, even when stuff goes not so great in the game of baseball, as it sometimes does,” Tempel said. “But he was a huge touchstone for his teammates … even as a freshman last year playing on the C squad. He was an awesome part of our program.” 

Jett’s baseball fandom even inspired an impressive collection, Tempel said. 

“He always had a different hat on every day. It seemed like he always had a different lid on,” Tempel said. 

Ashley Davis, a “baseball mom” who knew Jett through baseball said Jett’s passion for baseball was obvious. A new bat — a Marucci Cat X — had him really excited and his smile and happy personality were wonderful to be around for the team.

“His love for the game was genuine. Jett was such a free spirit and goofball. He always was making everyone smile and laugh. Jett’s house was the hangout for his 2026 classmates, especially lunchtime during the school day — those boys loved going over there with him,” Davis said.

Jett’s Spanish teacher, Marcy Evenson, remembered Jett’s collection of hats. More so though, she remembered his giving spirit, willingness to pitch in and consistently positive attitude. If a volunteer was needed for something, Jett stepped up. Jett was in her first-period Spanish I class last year and her first-period Spanish II class this year, she said, and that actually would help her start her day off right, she said.

“And, lucky guy, he got to start with me. Started off his day, each day with me, and you know, typical teenage boy, wasn’t totally in love with having to learn Spanish, but was just a super nice kid,” Evenson said. 

Evenson said it hit her particularly hard when she realized her classroom routine wasn’t the same without Jett there. His chair hadn’t been taken down the Tuesday morning after he passed away, and she had to take it off the desk and place it on the floor for the day. The volunteer that would help her out wouldn’t be there and she’d miss him and the positivity he brought to the beginning of the day.

Jett may not have been a serious academic, but he worked hard and made it a point to do his best, Evenson said. 

“He was a laid-back kid on the surface — didn’t look like he was trying super hard, but he always turned in his notebook fully complete, and, you know, just a good kid. And, it’s just amazing how much you can feel his absence already,” she said. 

Evenson said she will miss the positivity Jett brought to the start of her day. 

“The thing that’s going to stick out to me all the time is, as he would leave first period every day, he’d say, ‘Have a good day Ms. Evenson.’ He was one of the few kids to do that,” Evenson said.

Ephrata School District Assistant Superintendent Ken Murray, who hired Heidi as a teacher during his 10-year tenure as Ephrata Middle School principal, said Jett was in many ways a part of the EMS family. He was often seen there in his mother’s company. He was also a teacher’s assistant, and just generally was someone many of the faculty and staff there had watched grow up. He was part of the EMS family.

“There’s not a kid who deserves honoring any more than Jett. He was an amazing young man, and we’re all better off because of our time with him,” said Murray. “I wish we could have had more time, obviously, but the time we had made all of us better.” 

Heidi said she’s grateful to Jett’s friends for their support after the accident. They were one of the first groups to stop by and make certain she was taken care of after news spread that he’d been lost. Living near the high school, her home was often a spot for Jett’s friends to come before or after school and having them show their love meant a lot. Something that somehow seems appropriate when considering how much everyone said Jett was kind to others.

“The only thing I can just encourage everybody (to do) is just to treat each other with kindness and love, and that’s kind of what he did,” Heidi said. “He had a smile for you no matter what and he was just the sweetest boy.” 

A celebration of life will be held for Jett at 1 p.m. Saturday at the Ephrata Middle School gymnasium to celebrate the joy he brought to those who knew him. The community is welcome to attend.

Those who would like to support the family may sign up for a meal train established to help the family at www.mealtrain.com/trains/no742o.

Editor's Note: On behalf of the staff at the Columbia Basin Herald, our condolences go out to Jett's family, friends and the Ephrata Schools family who lost someone so important to them. Thank you for sharing your memories of Jett with us.

    Jett Johson made the Ephrata Tigers athletic program proud on a regular basis with his hard work and dedication. During his freshman year, he was the first on the team to knock a home run ball over the fence in a match against Waterville. Baseball was his absolute favorite sport.
  

    Jett Johnson, center, was a typical little brother in many ways to sisters Jayd, left, and Kaidyn Noga, right. He often attended their softball games and Kaidyn’s husband Riley and Jett have always been very close.
  

    Jett Johnson enjoyed his Volkswagon Jetta and his smile was often considered infectious, whether driving, playing baseball or giving his mom a hard time for “being from the late 1900s.”
  

    Jett Johnson, second from left in front row, loved baseball not just for the sport itself, but for the friends he made while playing. He spent a lot of time with his teammates and those he played sports with were some of the first to reach out to support his mom, Heidi Johnson, after news of his death spread.