POCATELLO — Tonya Crump and Jennifer Lopez laughed as they recalled their friend Judith Rachel Johnson’s irritation when a hair dresser burned her locks while giving her a perm.

    “She was always worried about her hair,” they both said in unison Thursday afternoon.

    Johnson was murdered Monday night in her home while her 10-year-old daughter and 13-year-old son slept in their beds, the friends confirmed. The children are now living with Johnson’s oldest daughter, who is 24. Johnson’s estranged husband, Michael Sparks, has been charged in the murder.

    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.

    “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.”

    The friends have set up a donation fund 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.    

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

    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.”

    The purpose of the Facebook page will be for accepting comments from well-wishers.

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

    Crump and Lopez confirmed Johnson’s 10-year-old daughter will be returning to school on Friday. Her son is not ready to return yet, they said.

    Johnson made an impact on 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.”

    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.”

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

    Friends also recalled how Johnson loved 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.”