Mary Johnson

Mary Gertrude Johnson August 22, 1923--November 21, 2024 Life " Up the hills of life we climb Through the troubles and the joys Bearing bravely all our troubles All of us, both girls and boys." Written by Mary Gertrude Fike, 1934 At the age of one hundred and one Mary G. Johnson, longtime resident of Brewster, died peacefully November 21, 2024, in her home by the river. Mary Fike was born August 22, 1923, to parents Ernest and Gertrude Fike in Sidney, Iowa. In 1929 the Fike family moved to East Wenatchee where the family lived in temporary housing and later moved to Palisades where Mary attended school in a one room schoolhouse. She graduated from Wenatchee High School and was among the graduates in one of the first graduating classes of Wenatchee Valley Junior College. Mary was preceded in death by her parents, Gertrude (née Hamilton) and Ernest Fike, sisters Sylvia, Inez,and Avis, brother Earl, husband John, and grandson Tyler. She is survived by her children: Terry (Trecia/Marika), Claudia (David/ Benjamin and Rebecca), Tim (Vicki/Nikki and Kelsey), Kevin (Crystal/Casey, Matt, and Jaimie), Keith (Sue/ Kyle and Claire), Lisa (Kosei/Naomi and lan), companion Jack Wood, and step-grandchildren Sean and Iris Fairchild. Surviving also are nieces Tanya Fike, Christy Johnson and Debbie Doty and nephews Bryan and Dale Cockrum, Gerry Giles, and eight great-grandchildren. In 1943 Mary married John O. “Johnny" Johnson, her husband of fifty-one years. Mary and John resided in Chelan, then moved to Wenatchee where Johnny took employment as a flight instructor for Wenatchee Air Service and on a wartime provisional certificate. Mary taught 1st grade at Stevens Elementary School. In 1953 when Johnny was offered a foreman's job at Crane & Crane Ranch, Mary and Johnny moved their young family to Brewster. After Mary raised her family, she returned to Central Washington State College in 1973 to complete her bachelor's degree in childhood education. Because of her passion for children, their care and education, in 1976, she established The Children's House daycare on Bridge Street in Brewster. For her business and service to the community, The Children's House was awarded Brewster Chamber of Commerce's 1998 business of the year award. In 1999 she retired and passed the business along to son Keith. Mary loved to travel and journeyed to countries on six continents. She loved nature and hiking the outdoors. A strong advocate of the Brewster Sr. Center, Mary attended regularly until her health failed. A lifelong lover of literature, Mary especially enjoyed poetry and loved commiting poems to memory. In addition to her love of family, she was an avid 'Zags fan and had a special fondness for the music of Irish singer Daniel O'Donnell. A lawn filled with quail never failed to delight her. At a later date the family will hold a private memorial at Packwood Memorial Cemetery on Dyer Hill in Douglas County. Mary's family extends their thanks to Angela Barboza, Holly Barrutia, Francisca Hernandez, and Jennifer Holmes for their excellent and loving care of our mother the past two and a half years. Memorial donations may be made in Mary's name to the St. Labre Indian School, P.O. Box 216, Ashland, Montana 59003

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Mary Johnson

August 22, 1923 - November 21, 2024