Lora Fay Johnson

Vancouver, Washington resident Lora Fay (Thompson) Johnson, 88, died in Portland, Oregon on December 31, 2010. Born in Haxtun, Colorado on November 17, 1922, she was the last surviving child born to James and Sarah ((Harrison) Thompson. Lora grew up in Zeigler, Illinois where she graduated from high school in 1940. She attended the University of Illinois in Champagne for several years prior to moving to Vancouver in 1948. There her first job was as a secretary for a wholesale lumberman. On February 11, 1949 Lora married Richard L. "Dick" Johnson and she became a career Army wife. Her husband was stationed as posts both in the United States and Germany throughout his 32 year military career. After her husbands retirement she moved to Jackson Hole, Wyoming where she was employed for the US Forest Service. In 1974 she and Dick moved to Camas, Washington and Lora was employed at the Veterans Administration Hospital in Vancouver as secretary in the drug and alcohol rehabilitation ward until retirement. Lora was a devoted wife, mother, and mother-in-law to Ron Williams, a former resident of Chinook. On her frequent visits to Chinook she attended the Evangelical Lutheran Church where she made many acquaintances. She was an active member of Zion Lutheran Church in Camas and also a member of Lackamas Chapter Order of Eastern Star in Camas. She enjoyed playing tennis, crocheting and crossword puzzles. She was a great hostess and enjoyed cooking for family and friends, and in past years she enjoyed traveling, golf and bowling with her husband. Lora is survived by her son Richard Eric Johnson (Mary Ann) of Woodbridge, Virginia; daughter Erin Jean Williams (Ron) of Vancouver, WA; her favorite granddaughter Ashley Mary Johnson of Arlington, Virginia; and numerous nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her husband Dick; sister Fern; and brothers James, Iiley, Randall Gene and Lloyd Lindy "Moose". Memorial service will be held Friday, January 14, 2011, 11:00 AM at Zion Lutheran Church in Camas with a luncheon reception following. Memorials may be made to either Friends of Chinook School (PO Box 243, Chinook, WA 98614) or Shriners Children's Hospital (in care of Penttila's Chapel by The Sea, PO Box 417, Long Beach, WA 98631). Her guestbook is available at www.penttilaschapel.com.