Carole Lynn Johnson

Carole L. Johnson

Nov. 13, 1942 — Sept. 19, 2016

Carole Johnson of Albany passed away Monday morning in Springfield at McKenzie Willamette Hospital due to Alzheimer’s and other dementia related causes. She was a resident of Gateway Gardens Memory Care in Eugene for the last several months.

Carole was born in Euclid, Ohio, to Martin and Marie Bauer Bates. Carole and her mother lived with her maternal grandparents in Euclid after Martin’s entry into the military during World War II and his death serving his country. They moved to Gahanna (Columbus), Ohio, after her mother remarried, and Carole attended school there including Ohio State University. Carole and her husband Larry moved to Albany in 1990 after her stops for a time in San Diego and Ashland.

Carole was quite an accomplished wordsmith and cutthroat Scrabble Champ. She spent most of her working career writing. First working as an administrative assistant, court reporter, stenographer, in radio advertising, managed a large California court reporting firm and then up to executive editor of a small publishing company. After moving to Albany, CJ operated her own small publishing and advertising businesses, but devoted most of her time to charity and service to our community and of course gardening. She ran for County Commissioner twice and served on many boards and commissions. Her last occupation involved her love of digging in the dirt and gardening. She opened a small nursery on their farm property. She raised bedding plants and flowers and sold them on site and at farmers markets. She loved to talk plants and offered advice and help to all comers whether they made a purchase or not.

While living in Ashland, CJ was married to her husband, Larry, in 1987 which lasted until the end of her life. Larry and CJ enjoyed travel and spent time in Mexico or Hawaii almost every year, the east coast visiting grandkids and traveled extensively in their RV all over the Western United States and Canada. The Oregon Coast was a favorite of both.

CJ’s other interests included painting, pottery, cooking, canning and emergency preparation, river rafting, and reading. She acquired an extensive library through the years.

She was preceded in death by both her parents. She is survived by her husband of 29 years, Larry, daughter Tasa, son-in-law Brett Snyder, and apple of her eye, granddaughter Lucia, all of Talent. Also surviving are her brother Bruce Dunn of Trinity Center, California; and stepchildren Matt Johnson and his family of Washington and Shammy Adams and her family of North Carolina.

Please make donations in lieu of flowers to the Alzheimer’s Association (alz.org) or the charity of your choice.

An open house celebration of life will be from 1 to 5 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 1, at the Johnson’s home, 1571 Clover Ridge Road, Albany.

AAsum-Dufour Funeral Home is handling arrangements (aasum-dufour.com).