Franklin E. Johnson Jr.'s Obituary
Franklin E Johnson, Jr., beloved husband, father, brother, and grandfather, has been set free to explore heaven’s mountains and streets of gold after more than a year and a half of hospice care at the Tacoma Lutheran Retirement Center. Frank, a Tacoma native, was the son of Franklin and Frances Johnson and older brother to siblings Larry and Shirley. Frank graduated from Stadium High School and the University of Puget Sound, where he was a member of Phi Delta Theta. Later, he pursued his MBA at Northwestern University in Chicago. An avid hiker, skier, and adventurer, Frank met the love of his life, Marlys (Marcy) Clark, while working as the manager of the Mount Rainier National Park Inn at Paradise. They were married in 1961.
Frank and Marcy raised three kids in University Place near Tacoma, and the family also enjoyed spending time at their beach home on Hood Canal, which they co-owned with lifelong friends. Every summer, Frank enjoyed planning a family vacation, usually a road trip, and these adventure-filled getaways created lasting memories. Frank enjoyed a long and rewarding career as a CPA, spending many of those years at the partnership he helped to form, Johnson, Stone, & Pagano, PS. His client relationships brought him much joy.
Frank was known for his youthful energy, and he could often be found jogging the streets of University Place, swimming at the YMCA or in Quartermaster Harbor, and hiking the Northwest’s beautiful trails. At age 60, he summited Mt. Rainier with two of his kids, a lifetime goal and an unforgettable experience.
Frank suffered a debilitating stroke at age 73, but initially he made a miraculous recovery. With his hallmark tenacity, he relearned how to walk, and he and Marcy enjoyed some retirement years together and traveled whenever possible. However, the last five years have been a difficult time of physical decline for Frank, and Marcy faithfully cared for him until he became bedridden almost two years ago. The family is grateful for the care provided by the staff at the Tacoma Lutheran Retirement Center’s nursing facility, and the support and care of the church family at University Place Presbyterian Church, where Frank and Marcy have been longtime members and Frank served as both deacon and treasurer, as well as the support and care of many other friends and family members.
Frank is survived by his wife, Marcy; sister, Shirley Welker; sons Kevin Johnson (daughter-in-law Tracie Johnson) and Jeff Johnson (daughter-in-law Malathy Mahalingam); daughter, Jill Gardner (son-in-law Doug Gardner); and grandchildren Jordan and Sarah Johnson, Anisha and Animesh Johnson, and Emily, Elliot, Bryce, and Jessica Gardner.
A celebration of life service will be at 2:00 PM at University Place Presbyterian Church on Sunday, September 17th. Memorials may be made to University Place Presbyterian church, University Place North Tacoma YoungLife, Tacoma Lutheran Retirement Community Foundation, and Franciscan Hospice.
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