Erroll Kert Johnson's Obituary
Erroll Kert Johnson part time resident of Robson Ranch, Eloy, Arizona and part time resident of University Place, Washington went to be with our lord on April 1, 2023. He passed away from a sudden illness at the Regional Medical Center in Chandler, Arizona.
Erroll was born in Tacoma, Washington on June 5, 1942. He is preceded in death by his parents, Lester and Mary (Miller) Johnson and only sibling , Arlene Shoemaker of Lakewood, Washington. Also preceded in death by his two sons, Duane (age 1 day) and Darren (age 48) . He is survived by his wife of 37 years Carol Johnson (Grossaint), daughter, Tami Knighten (Lacey, Washington), stepdaughter Carina Evans (Sandpoint, Idaho), stepson Christopher Burton (Winchester, Virginia), daughter-in-Law, Ronell Johnson, Kaaawa Hawaii; nephews, Brian and Steve Shoemaker of Lakewood, Washington, niece, Kathy Cooper of New Market, Alabama, 9 grand children, and 3 great-grand children.
In his senior year of high school he enlisted in the Navy and served from October 1961 to October 1966. During his enlistment he had two tours of duty in Vietnam aboard the USS Bon Homme Richard, and also spent a year on Guam. He worked in aircraft maintenance. After the service he worked a few different jobs; ship welder and a stint at Boeing.
He married Charlene Grabinski November 5, 1966 and shortly after found his niche as a carpet installer and worked as hourly union employee. Eventually, he became his own boss as a self employed subcontractor. He raised his two children, son Darren, and daughter, Tami. They had many fun times building a cabin at Lake Cushman, in the Olympic mountains. The cabin was shared by him and his parents, and was a weekend destination that held so many memories. He divorced in 1981.
A few years later he met Carol Burton (Grossaint) who had two children, Christopher and Carina. They married on June 21, 1986 at Lake Cushman. And spent the next 37 years raising the children, celebrating grand children and great-grand children arrivals. They retired in 2007 and purchased a home in Arizona where they could spend the winters golfing, and basking in the sun. They returned each summer to Washington and enjoyed visits with the family and the green lush landscape.
A celebration of Life was held on April 7, 2023 at their home in Robson Ranch, Arizona. Graveside services will be held in Lakewood Washington at Mountain View Memorial Park on May 20, 2023, at 1:00 p.m. In lieu of flowers, donations to Erroll's favorite charity, St Jude Research hospital, is encouraged.
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