Gladys O. Johnson

Gladys O. Johnson Aug. 31, 1918 - April 9, 2011 As a child, her playgrounds were the backyards of Tacoma's Hilltop neighborhood: Longfellow, Lowell, Central, Jason Lee, Mason, and Stadium Schools, and Wright Park, where a rhododendron was planted in her name for her 90th birthday. Gladys' humble roots ran deep into Tacoma's 20th century, beginning with her birth at her parents' rented home, ending nearly 93 years later inside a hospital just blocks away from that house. During the Depression, Gladys left school to help with family income. Among other jobs, her favorite was running a Deli counter downtown. During WWII she joined the Machinist's Union and worked at Todd Shipyard keeping track of ship patterns - some as small as 1 inch; others so large as to need many people to carry them. After the war, Gladys met and married Stanley and began her special duties as a policeman's wife, homemaker, and eventually mother. She was a Tupperware sales lady, a Girl Scout troop assistant, was on a bowling league and volunteered until late in life for the American Cancer Society. Stan and Gladys demonstrated their mutual creativity by building a lovely (now fully mature) Japanese-style garden at their North End home, and later Gladys designed the home's interior remodel upgrades. Widely known for award-winning outdoor Christmas decorations, their home was a stop on nightly holiday bus tours. Gladys was known for her good-natured ways and that she was always adorned in her much-complimented jewelry. She loved to wear that jewelry. Her last years, spent at Pt. Defiance Village, were fun-filled, and she gained a new talent as a watercolor artist, though she was modest about her ability. Gladys' constant companion was Jesus, and she often stated He'd always help her find things she'd misplaced. Preceding her in death were husband Stanley M. Johnson, sister Irene (Swanke), and parents Edwin G. and Hedrick O. Duncan. Gladys' loving survivors, along with friends, include brother E. Paul Duncan of San Jose, CA, daughter and son-in-law Jody Johnson and Scott Calkins, son and daughter-in-law Jeff and Kristy Johnson, grandchildren Janet and J.D. Johnson and Johnson-family nephews and nieces Dick, Julie, Mark, and Elly, and 5 grand/great-nieces and nephews. Services were held on April 21st, 2011 at Mountain View Funeral Home. Please make donations in her name to the Tacoma Rescue Mission, to which Gladys was a lifelong contributor.