Thomas Garlough Johnson

Thomas Garlough Johnson

Dec. 24, 1921 - May 15, 2011

Thomas Garlough Johnson, 89, passed away surrounded by his loving family.
The son of Earl and Olga Fee Johnson, Tom was born December 24, 1921 in a house across from his parent's home in the Shaughnessy Neighborhood of Vancouver, BC. Tom lived in Vancouver, but at age 13 he began attending boarding school, first at the Moran School on Bainbridge Island for one year, and then at the Lakeside School in Seattle, WA. After graduation from Lakeside in 1940 Tom went on to Whitman College in Walla Walla, WA graduating in 1948. His college years were interrupted by four years serving in Patton's army in the European Theatre of World War II.
Tom spent idyllic summers at Hopkins Landing, BC where his parents owned a cottage on the beach. While attending Whitman College, Tom met many lifelong friends, among them was Elaine Rydell. Lainie and Tom were married in 1950 by Lainie's father, Reverend Carl Rydell, in Tacoma, WA. Tom and Lainie lived in Seattle while Tom worked at the Bon Marche. In 1955 they moved to Everett, WA after purchasing a luggage and leather goods store, and settled in north Everett. The store, Cuthbertson's, was eventually renamed Tom Johnson Luggage and Gifts with locations in Everett, Bellingham and Northgate, WA. Tom and Lainie raised four sons and a daughter in Everett. In 1978 they moved to Port Townsend, WA where, in 1972, they had purchased a building on Water Street. In 2000 Tom and Lainie moved to Bainbridge Island to be closer to family. Lainie passed away in 2005, and in 2009 Tom moved to Seattle.
Tom loved dogs, gardening, cooking, and collecting antiques and art. He was involved in the communities in which he lived, in particular, supporting the arts. Tom made many friends along the way, especially at Lakeside, Whitman, Everett, and Port Townsend. Tom and Lainie enjoyed an active social life and were very hospitable, willing and anxious to share their lives with others.
Tom is survived by sons, Doug (Lynette) and children, Mckenzie and Llewelyn, Scott (Marcia) and daughter, Kimberly, Ross (Jane) and children, Betsy Brown (Sam) and Bennett (Kelsey), Mark (Patricia Phillips) and children, Carly and Lydia; daughter, Sally Elliott (John) and children, Lauren and Audrey; and great-grandson, Jude Brown. Tom is also survived by his sister-in law, JoAnne Johnson; his nieces, Jayne Johnson, Nancy Arnautoff, Tammy Johnson, and Susie Browne; and his nephew, Tim Johnson.
Tom was preceded in death by his wife, Elaine; his parents, Earl and Olga Johnson; and brother, Richard Fee Johnson.
Donations may be made in Tom's memory to Soulumination, www.Soulumination.org 5201 11th Ave NW, Seattle 98107, or to the Port Townsend Homeless Shelter Project of the Rotary Club of Port Townsend, 2023 E. Sims Way, #172, Port Townsend, WA 98368, www.porttownsendrotary.org
No memorial celebration will be held at Tom's request.