Kenneth Clyde "Ken" Johnson

Kenneth "Ken" Clyde Johnson, 81, a resident of the Cornelius community, passed away on February 12, 2026, at OHSU Hillsboro Medical Center in Hillsboro.

Ken was born on January 24, 1945, in Portland, Oregon. He was the only child born to Clyde and Fern (Dowell) Johnson and was raised and received his education in Cedar Mill. He attended Sunset High School and graduated with the Class of 1963. After graduating high school, he attended Oregon State University for three years, majoring in business and accounting.

He met his future wife, Carla Stroud, in the theatre department during a high school play. They courted for three years and were married on April 10, 1965, in Beaverton, Oregon. They made their first home in downtown Portland, where their son Kirk was born a year later. Ken and Carla then moved to Tigard and raised their family in and around western Washington County. Their first owned home was in the Somerset West housing development, and later they moved to a home they built in Aloha in 1974. In 1994, they moved to their 31-acre farm on Roy Road in Cornelius; it was here Ken took care of his mother in her twilight years. In 2012, they moved to their current home in Cornelius.

Ken began working at the age of 14 to buy and care for his own car. He started at Safeway and later held several positions that utilized his accounting and business education before settling into the housing and real estate industry, where he worked throughout his life. His primary occupation was coordinating home construction between clients and builders. He worked for Homes Now Inc. and also worked closely with his wife, Carla, who was a realtor, remodeling and reselling homes.

In their younger years, Ken and Carla enjoyed surfing along the Oregon Coast, and Ken made their surfboards. They also liked to go skiing. He was an exceptional dancer and appeared on a local dance show, similar to American Bandstand, as a competitive dancer. Ken was a sailor and enjoyed sailing on the Columbia River, and his love of boat design continued throughout his life. In his later years, Ken enjoyed gatherings with family and friends. He teased Carla constantly that he could play finger cymbals better than her, even with his large hands that had helped him when he played football. He was an avid researcher and loved following the Seattle Seahawks.

He is preceded in death by his parents.

He is survived by his loving wife of 61 years, Carla; his son, Kirk Johnson, of whom he was extremely proud, and Kirk's significant other, M'Linda Glawe, both of Northeast Portland; his grandson, Kevin, whom he loved deeply; his precious "daughter," Kristina Heagh-Avritt; and many nieces and nephews.