Salt Lake to Uvalde A Special Delivery

UVALDE, Texas — A Utah artist recently took a life-changing trip to a small Texas town to make a special delivery for residents who are still recovering from a horrific mass shooting.

JR Johansen, 78, painted portraits of all 21 women and children who were killed in the attack and personally delivered those paintings to each one of the victims' families.

On May 24, 2022, a lone gunman entered Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas, and killed 19 children— just 9, 10, and 11 years old — and two of their teachers.

Thirteen-hundred miles away in the small town of Huntsville, Utah, Johansen watched that story unfold.

"It just broke my heart," said an emotional Johansen. "I thought, oh if I just weren't so busy. I would love to paint a portrait for their parents because I believe it would bring them comfort."

Turns out Johansen's brother and sister-in-law, Ross and Jolene Davidson, lived in Uvalde. They were on a leadership assignment by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Weeks after the shooting, Ross Davidson called his brother in Utah.

"Have you considered you might be able to paint a portrait of those who have passed away? And I could hear him break into tears in his voice as he said that it has been on my heart and mind as well," Davidson said.

"I said well, you're the answer because I've been wanting to do it and didn't know how I would do it with the schedule I have," Johansen said.

For years Johansen has painted missionaries from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints who lost their lives while serving. He's donated those portraits to their families. To date, he's done over 150 missionary portraits.

"I have experienced pretty tender moments, painting missionaries who have died," Johansen said.

But never had he undertaken a project like this. The Davidsons gathered the photos and bios from the Uvalde victim's families and sent them off to Johansen. His first two portraits were done in August.

On Wednesday, Jan. 25, Johansen arrived at the Salt Lake City International Airport with two big wrapped boxes that read, "Uvalde Children Portraits, Extremely Fragile."

KSL-TV's Dan Rascon and photographer Tanner Siegworth traveled with Johansen to Uvalde for an exclusive behind-the-scenes look as he handed out the portraits to the families inside Davidson's home.