Cora “Marion” Johnson, age 96, of Burlington, passed away Wednesday, January 21, 2015.
Marion was born February 13, 1918 to Thomas and Laura (Larsen) Jensen in Denver, Colorado. She moved to Portland, Oregon when she was two, living there until the 6th grade, moving to Medford, OR for six months, and then moving to East Hill in Kent, Washington. She graduated from Meridian High School in 1936. Marion married John Alfred Johnson on July 20, 1938. They moved to Skagit County in 1947 living on the South Skagit by Pressentin Creek from 1950 to 1971. Marion was a homemaker all her life and raised six children (two sets of twins.) She had a very strong faith, taught Sunday school, and sang in the choir.
Marion is survived by her six children, Elaine (Dean) Hurn, Loreen (Scott) Atkinson, Dean (DiAnne) Johnson, Deanna Gwerder, Dan (Kris) Johnson, Darrel (Christy) Johnson; brother, Tom (Ida) Jensen; 21 grandchildren; 37 great grandchildren; two great great grandchildren.
Marion was preceded in death by her husband, John A. Johnson; sister, Doris Lay; grandsons, Roger Hurn, Tod Horton and Sam Gaydeski.
A private family burial will be held at Forest Park Cemetery, Concrete, WA under the care of Lemley Chapel. A Memorial Service will be held at 2:00, Saturday, February 14, 2015, at the Burlington Lutheran Church, 134 E. Victoria Ave., with Pastor Laurin Vance presiding.
The Wilkinson family has many fond memories of our childhoods living across the river from the Johnson family, afternoons at your welcoming home, the involvement with your family at Shepherd of the Hills. I have stayed in touch with Marion over the years and visits with her are a wonderful memory. Les and I had an afternoon visit with her within the last 2 years at her Burlington home that meant a lot to each of us. More recently, Marion has telephoned several times to tell me a story about my parents (Les and Ruth Wilkinson) that she was remembering–stories I didn’t know and thus very special phone calls. I will miss those calls and miss Marion’s delight in telling the stories. A truly special lady. My heart goes out to you all. Love, Susan Ragan
Our hearts are saddened with the news of your mother’s passing. I am so very grateful that while visiting Loreen last summer we were able to visit her mother and have lunch with her remembering high school days. What a wonderful lady. Remember the good times and her love for you all. God bless!
What a sweet lady! Aunt Marion was always so kind – I remember as a child going to her home on the Skagit and crossing the river on a raft! Then on Christmas Eve we would see her & Uncle Alfred and all the cousins again. Later in life, I worked in Burlington and she and Alfred would stop by the bank to say ‘hi’! She was always so kind and thoughtful!
I didn’t get to see Auntie Marion much since I moved away, but I have so many good memories going up river to visit Aunt Marion and Uncle Alfred. Running around ,playing, swimming. When I did get to see her when I came home to visit it was always fun to reminisce. I loved her very much and will miss her.
Each of you “Johnson kids” have been heavy on my heart since the passing of your wonderful mother, Marion. How fortunate we ALL were to know her and your family. I recall all those years ago at Shepherd of the Hills church in Concrete, the dedication and hard work of so many toward a common goal. She will be fondly remembered by everyone who knew her, and forever in our hearts. May you find in this sad farewell that her love lives on in each of you. All God’s blessings, now and always.
Loreen, Elaine, Dean, Deanna, Danny and Darrell
I will always recall your Mom as a loving, caring, beautiful, dignified lady who gave her heart to every child she met. (And boy there were gobs of us who were schoolmates and friends of the Johnson family ~ a legacy that stretched over many years.) Your parents’ home was always open to your classmates and pals.
Please accept our condolences and sympathy as you adjust to life without your Mother’s physical presence. She will watch over each of you until you are reunited once more when she opens the heavenly gate as your school bus rolls up.
I love all of you and remember each of you fondly. God Bless …
Marion, my cousin I have enjoyed the time we spent talking about the old days about my grandfather and great Uncle. You were always so sharp with remembering the details. Boy did have some laughs. Thank you. You have the kindest heart and all that knew you Loved you like I did. I know you are with my loved ones now and you are rejoicing with them. I will miss you but will never forget our times together.
A beautiful lady with a big heart. She loved talking about her family. We were all blessed to have her in our lives.
Thank you so much for being my gram, i was lucky enough to grow up in a time when we were sent to stay with our grandparents for a month in the summer. I will never forget those times on the Farm on the South Skagit, playing all day with my cousins, running back to the house for gram’s lunches. Our drives down the South Skagit with gramps driving on the wrong side of the road and laughing like crazy. Those are memories that will be with me for the rest of my life. I will miss my calls to and from gram that always began with ” hi honey” no one can make ” hi honey” sound so beautiful. Love ya gram……..Allen
I will always cherish the time I got to spend with great grandma. She was a wonderful person with a large caring heart. I love you grandma
OUR CONDOLENCES TO THE FAMILY!
IN MEMORY OF OUR CLOSE NEIGHBOR, DEAR FRIEND AND LANDLADY FOR THIRTY SOME YEARS.
I look back with fond memories of the Johnson family and our visits to the Johnson farm, what a great place to grow up! We were lucky that our parents were friends with Alfred and Marion. I know the memory of Marion’s love, laughter and smile will live with her family for time immemorial. Darrel, Dan, Deanna, Dean, Loreen and Elaine, you have my condolences.
Queen of the South Skagit (and everywhere else too). She was respected as a strong, caring, wonderful person and loving mother to her own children as well as an endless pack of kids that made their way to the Johnson farm. I loved Mrs. J like a second mom and will always cherish my time with her family as well as our visits as the years have passed. There’s a huge hole in my heart this day.
I will miss you so very much Grammy. This world will never be the same, with you gone. Our family was so blessed to have had you as ours. It was beautiful to have had 5 generations, something not everyone gets. We love you! Theresa, Chad, Shane, Otto