Juanita Brown

Juanita “Nita” Johnson Hampton-Brown, age 83, passed away peacefully on February 2, 2026, surrounded by her loved ones. She was born on January 2, 1943, in Provo, Utah, to Lawrence Leonard and Delma Golding Johnson, the youngest of five children.

Nita grew up in Provo and South Fork in Provo Canyon. Spending her early years in the canyon influenced a lifelong love of the mountains, scenic drives, and the quiet beauty of nature. She attended Orem High School, where she was a proud Tigerette.

On August 10, 1960, Nita married Larry Lee Hampton. Together they raised five children: Lance (Tami) Hampton, Brock Hampton, Chad (Nanci) Hampton, Melissa (Mike) Flygare, and Malea (Felipe) Moreira. Her children were her world, and she especially loved spending time with her kids and grandchildren. She took immense pride not only in their accomplishments, but in the people they became. She raised good humans, and that legacy meant everything to her.

Nita was intelligent, quick-witted, and had a wonderful sense of humor. She loved making people laugh and believed that humor could diffuse almost any situation. Many of her children and grandchildren inherited that same humor and spark, along with her well-known tendency to run late. She was funny and feisty all the way to the end.

Family meant everything to Nita. She treasured time spent playing games, going out to lunch with family, attending reunions, and being surrounded by her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She also loved animals and always kept a house full of beloved pets.

Professionally, Nita spent much of her career helping people with their taxes. She owned an H&R Block office in Vernal for several years and later retired from the Utah State Tax Commission. In between, she moved her family to eastern Tennessee to help her two oldest sons run a family business. After a few years, she made the decision to bring everyone home, rounding up the entire family and returning to Utah, determined not to leave anyone behind.

Nita was preceded in death by her parents; her siblings, Larry, Leroy, Murray, and Mary; and her beloved son, Brock. She is survived by her children Lance, Chad, Melissa, and Malea; 15 grandchildren; and 18 great-grandchildren.

We loved her deeply and will miss her terribly. Nita was stubborn, strong, and fought all the way to the end. While her passing leaves a devastating loss for those who remain, we take comfort in knowing she is now free from pain and physical limitation, able to breathe easy at last. She has been joyfully reunited with her son Brock, her parents, and her siblings. We are grateful for her peace, even as our hearts ache in her absence.

Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m., Wednesday, February 11, 2026 at the Berg Drawing Room Chapel, 185 East Center Street, Provo, Utah. The family will receive friends from 9:30-10:45 a.m. prior to services. She will be laid to rest at the Provo City Cemetery near her parents. Condolences may be extended to the family online at www.bergmortuary.com.