Keith Johnson

Seaview resident Keith H. Johnson, 76, died February 9, 2007 in Longview, WA. The son of Hilmar and Lorna (Swayze) Johnson, he was born January 25, 1931 in Rapid City, South Dakota, his parents being of Norwegian ancestry. Keith lived in nearby Summit, South Dakota until he was in the fourth grade. The family then moved to Modoc Point, Oregon and later to the Vancouver/Camas area of Washington for a short time. Keith then moved to Reedsport, Oregon where he graduated from high school and worked at E. K. Woods mill. Following high school he operated his own milk truck route, drove for Franz Bakery and then moved to Oregon City. There he drove for RediWay Truck Lines. Keith began working as a deckhand on tug boats on the Willamette River in Oregon City. He went on to become captain of the tugs Comet and Meteor operated by Western Transportation Company, retiring in 1993. He was a member of the Inland Boatmen's Union and life member of the Elks lodge. Keith had maintained a residence in Seaview since 1985. There he enjoyed watching and feeding the generations of local wildlife, especially the raccoons, and growing dahlias and sharing their bulbs with others. Keith loved the outdoors, fishing, crabbing, clamming and photography. He was a devoted family man who loved his children and grandchildren, and they in turn loved this man who was known for his independence, generosity and acceptance of his fellow man. He lived life to the fullest and was also an excellent dancing partner. He and Jan Parker were married and later divorced. In 1981 he married Beverly Rider and she survives. Also surviving are son Mike Johnson and his wife Sandi; daughters Suzi Batchelor, Cristi and husband Kerry Cline, Becki and husband Kurt Arnold, Connie and husband Don Wilson, Coleen Fias, Kathleen and husband Jim Anderson, Karen and her fiancé Steve Saari, Theresa and husband Ben Fowler; 24 grandchildren; 6 great-grandchildren; and sister Phyllis. He was preceded in death by sister Lorraine and his parents. Celebration of his life will be Saturday, February 17, 2007, 2:00 PM at Penttila's Chapel by The Sea, Long Beach. A reception follows at the chapel. Those wishing may make memorials in his memory to the Longview Community Hospice House in care of Penttila's Chapel, PO Box 417, Long Beach, WA 98631.