Obituary of Charles Lee Johnson

Charles (Chuck) Lee Johnson passed away on October 29th, 2011 in Portland, Oregon. He was born on December 2nd, 1935 in Sacramento, California, and was raised in nearby Rio Linda, California. Chuck grew up on a ranch in Rio Linda, California, working alongside his dad Carney. They raised cows, sheep and also horses. Grandpa Carney passed down to his son the art of sheep shearing, with the two of them traveling to sheep camps together, mostly in Northern California and Idaho. When Chuck's children were big enough their mother would take them out on weekends to watch dad and grandpa sheep shearing--this was always a treat! Chuck attended Grant Union High School from 1951 until graduating in 1954. He played all sports but was a star on the football field. After graduation he served in the U.S. Army and was stationed in Germany, where his young daughter Judy joined him--while on his way back home after leaving Germany his daughter Sue was born in Colorado. He then returned to help out on the ranch in Rio Linda. Grandpa Carney and Chuck continued to follow the sheep camps and more children arrived: Connie, Stan & Steve joined the gang. The family moved to Dunnigan, California where Chuck worked in a service station--they next moved to Vacaville, California where he purchased his own Atlantic Richfield station. Here the family attended the Church of Christ and really loved the pizza at Pietros. Grandpa Carney passed away on February 15th, 1963, and one week later Chuck's last son was born--he was named Carney Lee Johnson in his grandfather's honor. It was around this time that the family moved back to the ranch to see if they could make a go of it--times were tough, and Chuck became a tire salesman. The family next moved to Washington where Chuck found work logging, all the while keeping his dream of owning a tire store. He did realize his dream when he opened Economy Tire Stores, where he worked side by side with his sons. He loved the Gospel and in his final years attended services at Marquis Care Center Chapel, where he was ministered to by Arlen Benson, and by Pastors Jerry & Judy and a number of other chaplains as well. Charles was very active in the Grant Union High School Alumni association, and was recently able to attend his 60th high school reunion! Chuck is survived by his six children: Judy (Jerry) Apple of Portland, Oregon, Sue Callos of Tok, Alaska, Connie (Steve) Higley of Kaysville, Utah, Stan (Loni) Johnson of McPherson, Kansas, Steve Johnson of Vancouver, Washington and Carney (Rinda) Johnson of West Linn, Oregon. He is also survived by his sisters Norma Bagley of Folsom, California and Marge Hall of Baker, Oregon, and by 14 grandchildren and 15 great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents Carney Lee Johnson and Jean Bennett Ray, and by his sisters Joann and Edna Mae. A service with full military honors will be held at 12:00 p.m. on Thursday, November 3rd, 2011 at Willamette National Cemetery, to be followed at 1:30 p.m. (same day) by a memorial service at Marquis Care in Wilsonville, located at 30900 SW Parkway Avenue, Wilsonville, OR 97070. Memorial contributions may be made to Legacy Hopewell House, 6171 SW Capitol Highway, Portland, OR 97239. Arrangements by Crown Memorial Center – Tualatin.