By Michael Farnworth

For the Journal

POCATELLO— Tonya Crump, and Jennifer Lopez, recounted a time when Judith Rachel Johnson was upset about her hair dresser burning her hair while giving Johnson a perm on Thursday afternoon.

"She was always worried about her hair," the two laughed together.

Crump and Lopez have been friends with Johnson for nearly three years, and both of them expressed that the community has lost a beautiful woman both inside and out.

Johnson was murdered Monday night in her home with her 10 and 13 year old children sleeping in their beds. Michael Sparks has been charged in the murder.

"He should have never been out on bond," Crump said. "This was something that Rachel had mentioned that she was afraid of on several occasions. I always told her that she shouldn't worry about that."

Johnson is survived by her 24-year-old daughter, her 13-year-old son, and her 10-year-old daughter.

"Her kids were her world," Lopez said, "She was the most wonderful mother and she and the kids had such an amazing relationship."

"She and her oldest daughter called each other best friends," Crump said.

The three children were not taking calls Thursday night however, Crump and Lopez did say that Johnson's 10-year-old daughter will be returning to school on Friday. Her son is not ready to return yet.

A donation fund has been set up with Citizen's Community Bank under the name "Rachel Johnson Sparks Fund", and the money raised will go to help take care of the younger children, and a fundraiser is being planned by Lopez, Crump, and Johnson's oldest daughter. It will be held at Duffy's Tavern. The date and time had not been decided as of Thursday.

"We're gonna wait until after the funeral," Crump said, "but tonight (Thursday) we plan on having the "Justice for Rachel" Facebook page up."

people will not be able to give donations through the page, but they will be able to leave comments, and messages.

Johnson made an impact with her friends, and her former co-workers.

Matt Lee worked with Johnson at Pocatello Care and Rehabilitation a year ago.

"There was a lot of tears and anger when we heard the news," Lee said. "She was such a wonderful person, and this is such a sad situation." Lee continued by saying that, "She was an extremely hard worker, and she would have done anything for anyone, and she always had a smile on her face."

Her friends expressed the same sentiments.

"She was a pure angel," Lopez said. "You could meet her once and be friends for the rest of your life, and she was so passionate about people."

"She would give a person her last $20 dollars and go without," Crump said, "If she thought it would help. She was the best friend you could ever ask to have.

according to her friends, some of Johnson's favorite things to do were anything to do with the outdoors. "She loved camping, four-wheeling, and just going on drives." Lopez said.

Johnson's relationship with the suspect was never stable according to her friends.

"The abuse was always there," Crump and Lopez said. "The whole 13 year marriage, and he got in trouble so many times during those years for beating her. She did not deserve this."

Johnson's family and friends are hoping to use the Facebook page to make a difference. They will be posting information about fundraisers and benefits, as well as petitions for people to sign.

"Sparks should never have been let out of jail," Lopez said, "and we intend to take this to the courts. drug dealers get a $500,000 bond, while his was only $3,000. It's just not right, and we intend to do something about it."

Anyone that would like to donate to the Rachel Johnson Sparks Fund can do so by making a deposit at any Citizen's Community Bank.