Shirley Johnson

JOHNSON, Shirley F. - Beloved partner and mother, passed away December 6, 2007 after a valiant two year struggle with lung cancer. She was born January 19, 1925 in Salt Lake City, Utah to Laura and Walter Grow. She is survived by her partner of 46 years, Pat LaGrave, her children, Christopher Johnson, Carol Johnson, and Charlene Bowman; grandson, Matthew D. Johnson; and brother John W. Grow of Fort Worth, TX. A US Navy veteran of World War II, she was an anti aircraft gunnery instructor but was released under honorable conditions after it was discovered she was underage. A subsequent marriage to Warren Johnson ended in divorce. From the 1950's through the 1980's, the heyday of the "twenty five words or less" contests, she won thousands and thousands of dollars' worth of prizes including many autos, a speed boat, a pickup truck, expensive trips, countless large appliances, power and hand tools and cash-all through her incredibly creative writing skills and marvelously decorated entries. For years she pursued a career as an advertising art director, ultimately running her own operation in San Francisco. Tiring of this occupation, she and her partner made a specialty of acquiring distressed real estate and turning it into very desirable apartments and homes. She kept her hand in the business until her death. She had a huge love of travel and adventure, a curious mind and was an inveterate "two a day in ink" crossword puzzle fan, the more difficult the challenge the better. She'll be an endless source of stories and remembrances. At her request there will be no services, but a Celebration of her Life will be scheduled in the future. Donations may be made to the Hospice of Santa Rosa Memorial Hospital.