Roy Kenneth Johnson

JULY 17, 1925 – JULY 16, 2022

Roy Kenneth Johnson, age 96, of Mountlake Terrace, Washington, passed away peacefully at the home of his daughter, Laurie, in Montesano, on Saturday, July 16, 2022. Roy was born July 17, 1925, in Commonwealth, Wisconsin. He was the oldest child in his family and life was hard in the northeast woods of Wisconsin in the 1920s and 30s. One would never guess, based on the success he achieved later in life, that Roy only had an eighth grade education. He did, however, have an innate intelligence, a facility with people, and a strong work ethic that would carry him far.

In 1943, at the tender age of 18, Roy entered the US Army during World War II. He served as a gunner with the rank of Corporal from 1943-1946 in the Philippines, New Guinea, and the occupation of Japan. He served proudly but rarely discussed those difficult years except with other veterans. In May 2014, he was selected to participate in a Puget Sound Honor Flight to Washington, D.C.

Following the war, Roy worked for a time in Chicago. In 1948 he joined a group heading west. Photos show a ragtag group reminiscent of the Joad family from the Grapes of Wrath. His journey ended in Seattle. There he worked a couple of jobs before landing at McKale’s service station, a move that would mark the start of his future. Another outstanding moment in 1948 was when he met Marillyn Hoeglund, the woman he would marry and with whom he would spend the next 63 years until her death in 2012. Roy and Marillyn had three children. Daughter Kristy was born 2 days before their first anniversary, and daughter Laurie arrived 6 days before their third anniversary. That week in March was always a busy one. Son Jeff was a welcome surprise in October 1961.

If anything defined Roy, it would be work. The job at McKale’s service station led to him getting his own Union 76 station near the University of Washington in the 1950s. Through hard work, impeccable service, and superior customer relations, Roy established a reputation that made his a successful operation for over 42 years. When that chapter ended, he and his son, Jeff, a trained mechanic by this time, purchased the shop where Jeff’s Johnson’s Auto Repair continues the legacy of superior service begun by his father. Roy’s grandson, RJ, is the third generation to join the business.

In their 63 years together, Roy and Marillyn lived in two houses in Mountlake Terrace and became involved in many community activities. They joined Bethesda Lutheran Church in 1956 where Roy served as head usher for many years. He and Marillyn are both members of Bethesda’s Hall of Fame. He helped with every church workday and was an integral member of the groups serving meals at the downtown Seattle soup kitchen and selling hotdogs at Mariner’s games. When his children were in Luther League, Roy transported kids and equipment to Ocean Shores for a weekend retreat in the back of his pickup truck.

Roy was a charter member of Mountlake Terrace American Legion Post 234 with over 60 years of continuous membership. He regularly called Bingo games at Seattle’s VA Hospital. He also took responsibility for putting up and taking down American flags at area businesses on Memorial Day, Veteran’s Day, the Fourth of July, and other national holidays. A favorite story is the time he was reported by a concerned citizen for being a flag-stealing thief. The officer who came to the house was the son of a friend and the incident provided a lot of laughter. Roy and his good friend Ron Cline were honored to present Veteran’s Day programs at grandson RJ’s school.

As a member of the Mountlake Terrance Lions Club, Roy was a great “Tail Twister.” Roy’s terrific memory and affable style also made him a great joke teller. He regaled everyone with long, funny stories and jokes, never leaving out a detail. He might also precede that joke with his legendary firm handshake.

While Roy’s work consumed a large portion of his time, he did participate in a number of leisure activities. When his children were young, he was a member of a Thursday night bowling league. Later he would become an avid golfer. His pride and joy was his yard, in particular his “rhodies” and dahlias. He hung beautiful baskets of begonias on his backyard shop and fuschias in front. He and Marillyn shared a love of flowers and regularly signed up to provide altar flowers on Sundays. He took bouquets to tellers at the bank. Roy faithfully mowed his front and back yards every week well into his 90s. In 2011 he received the Evergreen Award for Pride in Properties for his beautiful yard.

Throughout his adult life, Roy regularly gave blood donating 2+ gallons of his in-demand B positive blood. He often got calls from Children’s Hospital in Seattle for help.

Roy bought a Shopsmith and became an accomplished woodworker, crafting side tables, cabinets, shelves, toys, birdhouses, sleds, churches, and more. He loved finding pieces he admired and figuring out how to replicate them.

Roy and Marillyn loved Hawaii and made numerous trips there over the years. They also traveled to Puerto Rico, Mazatlan, and made visits to their families in Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Illinois. There were trips to national parks and an extended visit to New England in the fall, fulfilling one of Marillyn’s dreams. There were many memorable camping trips with the kids. An annual trip for many years was to daughter Kristy and son-in-law Brian’s home in Madera, California. Roy and Marillyn, and later just Roy, would pick big boxes of oranges to take home to Washington. Roy rafted down the Colorado River and flew in a hot air balloon over Snohomish WA. Roy had an enviable sense of direction and could remember everywhere he’d been. He had a map of Seattle in his head and could navigate every side street, short cut, and direct path to any location.

When Marillyn developed Alzheimer’s, Roy lovingly cared for her at home until it became physically impossible for him to continue. In December 2009, with the help of daughter Laurie and son-in-law Ken, Marillyn was placed at Foss Home and Village where Roy visited her twice a day every day until her death in March 2012. Roy was well known by staff and other patients’ families at Foss and was invited to holiday parties and birthdays. In 2011 he received Foss Home’s Special Senior Appreciation Award for his many community activities.

Roy lived a long, honorable life in service to his family, community, and country. His work ethic, his generosity with his time and money, the effort and care he spent attending to the needs of his friends and family made his a life to be celebrated, remembered, and emulated. He was truly a member of the “Greatest Generation.”

Roy is preceded in death by his beloved wife, Marillyn (Hoeglund); his parents Alvin and Blanche (Thomas) Johnson; brothers Frank, Wally, Lloyd, and baby boy Johnson; sister Joann and stepmother Amy. He is survived by: daughters Kristy (Brian) Anderson, Laurie (Kennith) Clary, son Jeff (Stacie) Johnson, cherished grandchildren Katie (Ryan) Pettingill and Roy James “RJ” Johnson, sister Kathleen (Pete) Witynski, and numerous nieces, nephews, grandnieces, and grandnephews.

Roy’s life will be celebrated on Saturday, August 13, 2022, at 2:00 p.m., at Lake Forest Park Presbyterian Church, 17440 Brookside Blvd NE, Lake Forest Park, WA.

In lieu of flowers, memorials can be made to the Concern for Neighbors Food Bank, Mountlake Terrace, or the American Red Cross.