Obituary of Johnnie Laffette Johnson

John Johnson, 78, of Edmonds died April 13, 2009. He was born on Feb. 26, 1931 in Cherry Valley, Arkansas. Raised as a sharecropper in Arkansas, John served in the Air Force in the 50s before moving to Edmonds. He retired as a claims analyst, having worked for Fred Meyer, Payless, and Allstate. He married his wife dElaine, now a prominent international artist, in December of 1956. John had a passion for landscaping, and his gardens were works of art. He was an excellent businessman who knew the importance of education. He and dElaine created a legacy in 1997 by donating their estate in trust to Edmonds Community College. The college will benefit from their generosity in the form of scholarships, artwork, and other special projects. Upon making the bequest, John said, We have put our trust in the most secure investment possible, the hearts and minds of our worthy young people. To you we give our blessings, our wealth, our spirit. We ask only one thing in return. Be the very best that lies within your spirit. Johns gift will encourage students to pursue their dreams and make a contribution to their community for years to come. He is survived by his loving of wife of 52 years, dElaine, and sisters Pearl Coad and Shirley Tate. He will be greatly missed by all who knew him. At his request, there will be no service.