Aug. 21, 1937 — Nov. 12, 2008

Elmo Floyd Johnson passed away peacefully at his home, surrounded by his family, on Nov. 12 after a 15-year battle with prostate cancer. He was 71.

Elmo was born to Floyd and Genevieve Johnson on Aug. 21, 1937, in Albany. He lived most of his school years in and near the Salem area, moving to Newport in 1955 for his senior year of high school. There he met Sandra Dodd and they were married July 8, 1958, in Newport at the bride’s home. They celebrated their 50th anniversary this summer. They were privileged to spend most of their lives raising their children in Newport. Three and a half years ago they made the move to Corvallis to be near their grown children and Elmo’s doctor.

Elmo proudly served in the Oregon National Guard from 1957 through 1963. His first job was working for C.D. Johnson Lumber Co. in Toledo. Georgia-Pacific eventually purchased the lumber company and Elmo continued to work under the new ownership. He worked for several of the area builders from 1965 until the mid ’70s when his brother Bill moved to Newport and they decided to form a building partnership. They built and remodeled many houses together. In 1977, Bill moved back to Salem and Elmo worked on his own, building and remodeling, until retirement.

Elmo was an avid hunter and lived for the hunting trips he took in the fall with his family and friends. He especially enjoyed being there for several of his grandsons’ first deer. The stories were told and retold until the next fall came.

Elmo loved the Lord and committed his life to serving others. He found great joy reading and studying the Word of God. He led a Bible Study in his home for close to 20 years. Elmo was a member of the Church of the Nazarene and helped work on the present church building in Newport. One of his many joys of church work was the Work and Witness trips he was privileged to go on. He went on nine or 10 since being diagnosed with cancer; many of which were in developing countries. When Sandy retired from West Coast Bank, they went to the Philippines two different years for three months each, helping the W.W. coordinators staying in Manila. These times of serving proved to be a highlight of his life.

He was preceded in death by his parents.

He is survived by his three children, Cari and Jim Sanderson of Portland, Troy and Debby Johnson of Albany and Shelly and Jon Bartlow of Philomath; nine grandchildren; one great-grandchild on the way; brothers William Johnson of Salem and Rodney Johnson of Medford; sister Julia Bowen of Lakeview; aunt Noreen Hoover of Albany; and many cousins, nieces, nephews and extended family.

A memorial service will be at 4 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 22, at the Newport Church of the Nazarene. Memorial contributions can be made to The Church of the Nazarene in Newport or the Church of the Nazarene in Albany for needy students attending the seminary in Manila, Philippines. Please mark checks in the memo line with APNTS.

Arrangements are under the direction of Twin Oaks Funeral Home.