Thomas L. "T.J." Johnston

1946 - 2019

Thomas L. "T.J." Johnston obituary, 1946-2019, Portland, OR

BORN

1946

DIED

2019

Thomas Johnston Obituary

Thomas L. 'T.J.' Johnston
March 9, 1946 - Oct. 14, 2019
Thomas L. "T.J." Johnston, 73, a lifelong native of the Forest Grove community, died Monday morning, Oct. 14, 2019, at his home.
A funeral Mass will be celebrated at 11 a.m., Monday, Oct. 28, 2019, at the Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary Catholic Church, 4285 N.W. Visitation Road in Verboort, with Fr. Michael Vuky, celebrant. Recitation of the Holy Rosary will precede the Mass at 10:30 a.m. Burial Rites and Interment will follow at the Visitation Parish Cemetery in Verboort.
Family and friends are invited to attend a luncheon immediately following the church ceremony, to be held in the parish hall.
Thomas Lee Johnston was born March 9, 1946 in Forest Grove, Ore., the son of the late Clifford Richard Johnston and Dorothy Marie (Clement) Johnston. His family settled in Champoeg Creek in 1850. He was raised and received his education in Gales Creek and Forest Grove, having been a graduate of the Forest Grove High School Class of 1964. He worked in the logging industry with his late father, Clifford, for Noblecraft Cabinet in Hillsboro and Western States Fire Apparatus in Cornelius. Tom also served as a volunteer fireman for the Forest Grove Fire Department, before heading to Blue Mountain Community College. He graduated in 1971 with a degree in Police Science, while attending college he served as the student body president.
He was united in marriage to Raean Carmela Vandehey July 30, 1977 in the St. Anthony Catholic Church in Forest Grove. They celebrated their 42nd Wedding Anniversary this past July. Following their marriage, they made their home in the Forest Grove community.
Tom retired from the Forest Grove Police Department in 2001, after over 30 years of service. From 2002 to 2009, he worked as the student supervisor at the Forest Grove High School. In 2002, Tom ran for the Forest Grove City Council and won. He has served four terms, as well as being the Council President. He had been helping people most of his life and served the community part-time working at Fuiten, Rose & Hoyt Funeral Home.
He also served on the League of Oregon Cities Finance and Taxation Policy Board, the Governors Interoperability Executive Council, the Broad Band Sub-Committee, the Leagues Conference Planning Committee, the Washington County Public Safety Coordinating Council, serving as chairman twice and the Vice Chair on Washington County Consolidated Communications Agency.
Tom has been a member of St. Anthony's Parish for 40 years in Forest Grove and more recently Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary Parish in Verboort, a charter member of the Forest Grove Elks Lodge B.P.O.E. #2440, having served as the past District Deputy Grand Exalter Ruler. He was also a member of the Cornelius Eagles Lodge Aerie # 4177, a life member of the Holbrook Lodge # 30 A.F. & A.M., a member of the Al Kader Shriners, a past president of the Daybreak Rotary Club, served as vice -chair of the Forest Grove Urban Renewal District, a board member of the Forest Grove/Cornelius Chamber of Commerce and liaison to several boards and commissioners.
Among his special interests, he enjoyed fishing, RV camping and sports of every kind! Tom also loved spending time with his family, home remodeling, cards, fly fishing and hiking.
Tom was preceded in death by his parents, Clifford and Dorothy Johnston; and his brother-in-law, Richard Babbitt.
Survivors include his wife, Raean Johnston, of the family home in Forest Grove, Ore.; his son, Matthew "Matt" Johnston; his two daughters and sons-in-law, Sara and Mike Marshall and Lindsey and Andy Caron and his sister, Marlyce "Mick" Babbitt, all of Forest Grove Oregon; and his brothers-in law and spouses, Randy Vandehey, of Brookings, Ore., Brad Vandehey (Megan), of Lake Oswego, Ore., and Lynn Vandehey, of Lebanon, Ore. Also surviving are his grandchildren, Riley, Nolan and Malia Marshall, Quinn, Rowan and Ava Caron; and his nieces and nephews, Rosemary Lee; Jason (Carrie) Vandehey, Kristin (Mike) Matter, Todd Vandehey, Chad (Deena) Vandehey, Jeremy (Stephanie) Vandehey, Adam Vandehey, Leanne (Mike) Sizelove, Richard Babbitt and Dawn Babbitt; and many great-nieces and nephews.
The family suggests that remembrances may be contributions to the Visitation New School /fund-Phase 2, 4189 N.W. Visitation Road, Forest Grove, OR 97116 or to the American Red Cross, 3131 N. Vancouver Avenue, Portland, OR 97227, in his memory.
To sign the online guest book or to send a condolence to the family go to: www.fuitenrosehoyt.com
Fuiten, Rose & Hoyt Funeral Home in Forest Grove is entrusted with the arrangements.
Please sign the online guest book at www.oregonlive.com/obits

Published by The Oregonian from Oct. 18 to Oct. 20, 2019.
34465541-95D0-45B0-BEEB-B9E0361A315A

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Memorial Events
for Thomas Johnston

Oct

28

Rosary

10:30 a.m.

Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary Catholic Church

4285 N.W. Visitation Road, Verboort, OR

Oct

28

Funeral Mass

11:00 a.m.

Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary Catholic Church

4285 N.W. Visitation Road, Verboort, OR

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