William "Bill" J. Johnson

William "Bill" Johnson was a natural leader whose winning presence allowed him to take control of various situations with ease. Equipped with a clear and calculating focus, he possessed a tough-minded, “take charge” attitude. He had the ability to make even routine situations seem exciting, and he was at ease with the role of playing problem solver. Bill always sought out the scene of where the action was. Sociable, analytical and pleasant, Bill was an individual who enjoyed life’s challenges.

His parents were Jed and Elizabeth "Liza" Johnson. Bill was raised in many locations, all in California. Always able to express himself well, Bill possessed strong interpersonal skills. He was optimistic in his outlook on life and was able at all times to be open and direct in his communication. Armed with a great wit, Bill was raised to be accepting of others and to implement a strong personal work ethic.

Blessed with a balanced attitude, Bill was able to relate well with others. His occasional role as family mediator gave him the opportunity to ease tense situations when they occurred. Bill was raised with one sibling. He had one sister, Genevieve. Bill had a strong desire to be treated fairly and would readily offer others the same fairness in return.

As a young child, Bill showed his creative ability in many ways. He was outgoing and animated. Bill enjoyed new activities and pursued a variety of interests. He was a member of 4-H.

Known to others as a focused, logical, open-minded and somewhat driven individual, Bill was able to utilize these qualities to succeed in high school. His curious nature was spurred by his ability to maximize his personal learning style through employing a hands-on approach. He was good with facts and had an excellent memory. He graduated from Hunnington Beach High School in 1943. He enjoyed some courses more than others, having favorite classes and teachers. His favorite class in high school was College Prep English.

On November 20, 1948 Bill exchanged wedding vows with Patricia Aileen Lovelett at the In the bride's grandmother's home of Inwood, California. Bill was attentive to Pat's feelings, and he charmed Pat and others with his gift for being able to give freely and generously. A good listener with an engaging personality, Bill was able to bring pleasure and unexpected humor to the relationship.

Very much like a kid himself, Bill identified with the inquisitive and creative side of his children’s personalities. He was able to direct his energy and spontaneity towards helping his children acquire added common sense skills. Bill was blessed with Three children, two daughters, Candice Lee and Debra Elizabeth and one son, Mark Scott.

Bill was a flexible worker who was able to draw the best from others around him. A persuasive individual who was quick to make necessary decisions, Bill’s strengths included being able to think on his feet. He could be a leader who sought impact for his decisions. Gifted with an incredible ability to read body language, Bill was able to positively manipulate situations and motivate others in order to get a task completed. He was a good negotiator who enjoyed new challenges. Bill could multi-task, and he was endowed with entrepreneurial spirit, allowing him to think beyond standard norms when it came to resolving issues in his work environment. His primary occupation was an inspector for CH2M Hill. He was employed for some years in logging and saw mills and thirty one years with CH2M Hill.

Bill was a Navy veteran. Bill was a cool thinker who could handle himself well in a crisis. He served from 1943 to 1946. Bill saw action during WWII. He showed leadership qualities and could make tough decisions when he was called upon to do so.

Bill enjoyed his leisure time by taking part in various hobbies. He had something of an artistic flair in many of the things that he did. He put this creativity toward all of his pastimes. His favorite pursuits were hunting and fishing. He was content to enjoy his hobbies alone but was also willing to share his interests with others.

Because he liked to take risks, Bill was a perfect match for athletics and exercise. He was enthusiastic and confident about these activities. Bill was also something of a sports fan and enjoyed watching his favorite events whenever he got the opportunity. Tops on his list was football.

Bill was a generous man who prized that same quality in others. So it’s little wonder that he was so active and giving in his community. Politically, Bill was a devout Democrat.

Travel and vacations were experiences that Bill truly enjoyed. He preferred to seek out excitement wherever he went and he was partial to vacations that were casual and laid back with an atmosphere of “live and let live.” He was willing to leave his plans open and flexible, just in case something more interesting came along. Favorite vacations included driving the Alkan highway to Alaska and touring through it, touring New England and Australia.

Bill was a lover of animals and cherished his pets. One of Bill’s favorites was Yellow Lab, Roxie. They were best friends for 6 years.

He used logical analysis of his retirement options in order to ensure his retirement would be fulfilling. Still, he was able to easily adapt to possible changes and enjoyed just having fun and being relaxed. His new life involved relocating to the family ranch in Shingletown. In retirement, he found new pleasure in becoming a gentleman farmer.

Bill passed away on October 12, 2010 at Marqui Care Shasta in Redding, California. He is survived by his wife, Pat; three children, five grandchildren and eight and a hald great grandchildren. Services were held at Ogburn-Inwood Cemetery in Shingletown, CA. Bill was laid to rest in Ogburn-Inwood Cemetery.

William "Bill" was the kind of person who could win others over easily. A concrete communicator, he relied on his senses to increase his involvement and awareness of others. He was always able to provide amusing repartee to his friends and acquaintances, offering a seemingly endless supply of quips, anecdotes, jokes and stories. If William "Bill" had a theme song written about him, it might well have been “Don’t Worry, Be Happy.” He enjoyed his life and the experience of living it. This is how everyone will remember William "Bill" J. Johnson.