Cyrus Matthew Johnson, age 18, of Mount Vernon, Iowa, passed away on Sunday, December 14, 2025.

Visitation will be held from noon until 1:15 PM on Saturday, January 3, 2026 at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 4679 W 11000 N, Highland UT 84003. Funeral service will be held following visitation at 1:30 PM at the church. Burial will be held following funeral services on January 3, 2026 in Orem City Cemetery, Orem, Utah.

Cyrus was born on March 14, 2007 in Provo, Utah. He is the cherished son of Matthew and Devyn (Hunter) Johnson. Words cannot express how much we love being his parents. Cy comes from a large and rowdy family with siblings who adore him; Ellery (Jacob) Pawlowski, Bailey (John) Low, Taitem, Gus, Sloane and Zadie, and our two precious angel babies Emma and Vince. His loving grandparents Logan and Diane Hunter, Allan Johnson, and Connie Atkinson. Aunts and Uncles: Max (Sophy) Hunter, Ed (Merci)Johnson, Beth (Jason) Stoffel, Becky (Jeremiah) Comment, and Lindsey (Steven Koether) Miller. Many, many cousins will miss him too. He was preceded in death by our beloved Uncle Lloyd Hunter.

Cyrus graduated from Mount Vernon High School with the class of 2025, where he participated in Concert Choir, Jazz Choir and Band, Marching Band, Speech, MVHS Drama and varsity basketball (woot woot, iykyk). He was so talented and successful at such a wide variety of things. He was a very hard worker and demonstrated such dedication in his young life. He was currently a Freshman at the University of Iowa on vocal performance scholarship, where he was studying for a double major of Music Therapy and Voice Education.

Cyrus was a giant person in every way; a big heart, big personality, big smile, big soul, big body, big laugh and a big, giant voice. He was a voracious consumer of all things music, he had a broad and eclectic taste of different varieties and genres of music and not many things brought him more pure joy. But more than even his love of music, Cy loved his family. He loved and cherished his relationship with each of his sisters and his brother. Cy was a co-conspirator to many cherished memories with his older sisters, the protector of his younger sisters, and was usually wrestling on the floor with Gus. Regardless of which sibling he was spending time with, Cy coined the phrase as their mantra - "Happy, Happy Fun Time!" Cy had a most excellent sense of humor and command of physical comedy. At an early age, Cyrus developed a knack for great dad jokes, witty observations, and sarcasm that was tasteful and kind. His sense of being his own self was evident in his wide taste of music and a way of dressing that was a style all his own. Cy was famous for creating family productions and plays, musical arrangements, games, adventures and experiences. He was a leader in our family and a backbone of strength and togetherness that forged an unbreakable bond.

Cyrus was a happy contributor to many Johnson Family traditions, one of which was The Big Fat Van. He enjoyed the family rig probably more than anyone with its hundreds of funny, sarcastic and sometimes political stickers covering up worn-out paint, dings and dents. He loved that van intensely.

He was afraid of nothing but anxious about many things as an over-thinker sometimes, but he soldiered on and never lost his smile. Cy was always concerned about those around him, making sure that people felt loved, invited, welcomed and that they had a place. He was an excellent friend and his friends meant so much to him. Cy loved his girlfriend Bella very much, they were adorable together and she has a special place in our family too. Cyrus was a very intelligent and bright student all while maintaining levity about his studies and making sure everyone was having an enjoyable time that was conducive to a good learning environment. He enjoyed participating in many forms of entertainment including music, drama productions, and humor. No production was too big or too small for our Cy.

Cyrus had many hobbies, outside of entertaining friends and family. He was fond of being outdoors, fishing, music, our dog Rocky, Toaster and Bleu Cheese (his birds), Pedro the cat, a big love of Minecraft and College Football '25 with his siblings, and figuring out how to jackknife pallet jacks in whatever warehouse his Dad and Gus were working in.

Accomplishments:

-Fall of 2022 Mount Vernon High School's production of Lend Me A Tenor as Frank the Bellhop. This cast performed on the mainstage at Iowa Thespian Festival, then at the International Thespian Festival where MVHS was one of 8 selected schools to perform.

-January 2023 attended Wartburg's prestigious Meistersinger Honor Festival in the choir.

-Spring 2023, director of MVHS's production of Beauty and the Beast.

-Spring 2023, competed at State Solo and Ensemble. In each event he earned a Division I Rating. Cyrus competed solo, in a duet with his older sister Taitem, as well as with other small ensembles and the choir.

- Spring 2023 joined with the MVHS Choir as they had the great honor of performing at the Iowa Choral Directors Association Conference.

-In 2023 inducted into the International Thespian Society and reached the Honor Thespian Status.

-Spring 2024 he sang solo beautifully at State Solo and Ensemble and earned a Division I Rating.

-Spring 2024 he competed with his younger brother Gus, as a duet and accompanied by his older sister Ellery. They together earned a Division I Rating.

-From 2022 to 2025 at MVHS he consistently participated in Speech and was a four time Allstate nominee: three individual nominations and one group nomination.

-In the Summers of 2023 and 2024, Cyrus gave his time to volunteering with young and aspiring Thespians in the Mount Vernon School District.

-During the Fall 2023 and in the 2024 season of marching band, Cyrus played on the drumline. MVHS drumline went undefeated. They won best percussion at Mt. Pleasant, Linn-Mar, Prairie, Five Seasons, Muscatine, and Waukee Competitions.

-In both Fall of 2023 and 2024, Cyrus had the honor of being selected for the All State Choir.

-In 2024 and 2025, Cyrus earned his varsity letter in Theatre.

-In the Fall of 2025, Cyrus began studying Music at the University of Iowa and participated in the University of Iowa's Symphony Chorus.

We cannot thank the community of Mount Vernon enough for your love and care of our dear Cyrus. He loved you all and wanted to make you proud. He loved the relationships he made, he admired you and learned from you. He felt loved, very, very loved. We are endlessly grateful. Mount Vernon is a special place with extraordinary people. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts for all the love, prayers and service.

To our dear family and friends in Utah, we thank you all for the love and support we have been shown. From Idaho, to Indiana, Ohio and all the way to New Jersey, our support system of dear friends and loved ones is vast and incredible. It is remarkable and absolutely a miracle how much love has been sent our way. The sense of community and service is inspiring, and we are made better for it. We deeply appreciate each and every person who has mourned with us, for our beloved Cy. Thank you!

Cyrus always was and always will be an important part of the Johnson Family. His love for his family, his giant but gentle soul, his concern and care for those around him, especially his sisters, made him a unique contributor to our family. We all ache with him gone but we all look forward with a perfect brightness of hope that he will remain as an important part of our family through the perfect Atoning sacrifice and Gospel of our loving Savior Jesus Christ.