SCOTT EARL "SCOOTER" JOHNSTON

1950 - 2011

Scott Earl (Scooter) Johnston passed away February 25, 2011 from cancer.

Scott was born July 23, 1950 to E. Oren Johnston, Jr. and P. Ruth (McCay) Johnston in Eugene, OR.

Scott grew up in Santa Rosa, CA. His father was a commercial fisherman and cabinetmaker. Scott went to high school in Yakima, WA. In 1968 his father returned to commercial salmon fishing in S.E. Alaska and Scott joined him.

Scott served in the Navy during the Vietnam War in 1970 and 1971 aboard a destroyer escort off the coast of Japan, Vietnam, and the Philippines.

In 1972 he married Debbie Roll and they had 3 children. They moved to the Skagit Valley in 1973, where Scott worked building fiberglass pleasure boats.

After their divorce in 1978, Scott started a new career commercial fishing on the Allison Marie out of Everett and Westport, WA. There he met and married Jeannie Gentry in 1984. They moved to the Skagit Valley in 1990 where he worked for Nasty Jack's Antiques as a furniture refinisher. He later repaired power tools for Northwest Tool Repair in Alger.

Scott was an avid camper known by friends and family as "Mr. Coleman".

He was also a big NASCAR fan, rooting on local driver Kasey Kahne both on TV and at Kasey's early career sprint car track, Skagit Speedway.

He very much loved spending time with family, woodworking, and collecting antiques. He was a longtime member of the VFW, fondly remembering his "fallen comrades".

Scott was preceded in death by a young son, Bradly Lynn, and mother, Ruth.

He is survived by his father, Oren, his soulmate, Jeannie, son Heath Johnston, daughters, Tja Al-Kahtani, Sheri Smith, three much loved grandchildren, Haelee, Katelynn and Jaden, and step-son, Justin (Cara) Moran. He is also survived by his brother, Richard (Monica) Johnston, and sisters, Cindy (Pete) Fay, and Brenda Johnston, also numerous aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, cousins, and "greats" including a great-niece Sierra who shared his birthday.

He will be greatly missed by his many friends.

Cremation was by Neptune Society of Lynnwood.

A memorial service will be held Saturday, April 9, 2011 at 12 p.m. at the American Legion, 701 Murdock St., Sedro-Woolley, WA followed by a potluck celebration of his life at 2 p.m. at the Overflow Bar, 109 Ferry St., Sedro-Woolley.

A memorial service will be held Sunday, April 17, 2011 at the Church of Christ, 4309 Ahtanum Rd., Yakima, WA. Potluck at 12:30 p.m., service following.

The family wishes to thank the nurses and staff of the Life Care Center of Sedro-Woolley, and the nurses at United General Hospital for all their kindness and caring.