Carolynn Elizabeth Johnson

May 23, 1958 - November 9, 2016

After a 17-month courageous battle with Glioblastoma, Carrie passed away surrounded by family; her spirit freed and her fierce independence restored.

Carrie was a light in so many people’s lives. She was the world to her husband, Jeff, and daughter, Cassie. She was born in Seattle, Washington, but spent her early childhood growing up in Slidell, Louisiana, before moving back to Edmonds as a teen. Along with her stories of growing up in the South, she kept the occasional southern drawl R in words, which her nieces and nephews loved to tease her about. She graduated from Nathan Hale High School in 1978 and went on to marry Jeff in 1982, in a small backyard ceremony that family and friends still talk about to this day. Her purpose in life was being a mama, the best a girl could ever imagine. Cassie, born on Carrie’s birthday, was her mother’s best friend. A sister to Cathy, Christy, Cherie, Candy, Rob, and Julie she was always by your side when you needed her. Her smile and laughter was infectious.

Lou Bum, her treasured companion of 17 long barking years, is now with her again, he probably couldn’t wait to have his mama back. Carrie also enjoyed her adventures with Australian Shepherd Billie Jean, and Grace, who stayed loyal by her “grandma’s” side and brought her peace and comfort when her days needed brightening.

Carrie’s passions were entwined with her family. Whether on her morning Starbucks drive, a long walk, birdwatching, shopping till you drop, or over a glass of good wine - she thoroughly found joy in those fine details of life that are often missed. Through the years she spent many seasons snowboarding the blues and biking or hiking trails alongside her husband and family. This lady also loved jet-setting off to Palm Springs, Park City, Cabo, and Maui, the sun worshipper that she was. You could find her on the golf course or working for hours in her beautiful yard. She had a love for dahlias, honeysuckle, and poppies. Her bird feeders, suet, and hummer feeders were always full and her camera ready. Carrie’s photos of the Northern Flickers, Pileated, Downy, and Hairy Woodpeckers line her walls and bring peace with their presence. In the Snohomish Valley, she bird watched for hawks, eagles, snow geese, and trumpeter swans. She possessed an ability to create, enjoying crafting and projects with her daughter, creating more than the physical craft, she created lasting memories that will be cherished forever. Her fingerprints are found throughout her home, her love of decorating and the personal touch she put on making her home a place to gather will continue to shine through.

Beauty. Grace. Strength.

CB, Mama, you were fiercely loved.

i carry your heart with me (i carry it in

my heart) i am never without it (anywhere

i go you go, my dear; and whatever is done

by only me is your doing, my darling) i fear

no fate (for you are my fate, my sweet) i want

no world (for beautiful you are my world, my true)

and it's you are whatever a moon has always meant

and whatever a sun will always sing is you

here is the deepest secret nobody knows

(here is the root of the root and the bud of the bud

and the sky of the sky of a tree called life; which grows

higher than the soul can hope or mind can hide)

and this is the wonder that's keeping the stars apart

i carry your heart (i carry it in my heart)

E. E. Cummings

A celebration of Carrie’s life is to be announced for family and friends.

Carrie is survived by her husband, Jeff Johnson, daughter, Cassie Johnson, father, Richard Jones (Sally), siblings, Cathy Mercer (Mike), Christy Alexander (Jason), Cherie Jones, Candy Benedetti (Mark), Rob Jones, Julie Jones, and many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her mother, Frances Schroeder, and Grandmother, Effie Ivey.

Special heartfelt thank yous to Nurse Martha, Katie, Dr. Inoue, Robin Wallace, the many other nurses and staff at Providence Regional Cancer Partnership, and Gracie, Stephanie, and Staff at CVS Lake Stevens, who all walked this road with us providing simple yet extraordinary kindness and compassion, and knowing that SHE mattered to them.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to:

Defeat GBM Research Collaborative - National Brain Tumor Society

http://defeatgbm.org

Strong Against Cancer

Seattle Children’s - Hospital.Research.Foundation

https://give.strongagainstcancer.org