Marlene Marsha Johnson

Marlene was born in Chicago, Illinois on May 26, 1953 to Robert and Edna Dommer Lamm. She leaves behind her daughters Kali Roy(Jeffrey) and Kirsten Schreyer (Ryan), step-daughter Devin Beals (Jason), brother Ernest Lamm (Vicki), grandchildren Skye and Nora, her niece and nephews, Jamie Tate (Josh), Kyle Lamm, and Scott Lamm (Liz), and her beloved golden-doodle and favorite “child” Nikki.

Marlene worked most of her life in academia, where she contributed to the development and implementation of the radiology technology department at Salt Lake Community College and the MRI, CT, & Nuclear Medicine technology program at The University of Utah. She had a passion for teaching and adored her students. Though she retired in 2014, she loved learning and continued to contribute to the field of radiology education through her many published articles.

Marlene and her dog Nikki spent much of her retirement as an animal-assisted therapy volunteer with Intermountain Therapy Animals, where they visited the University of Utah Health and Huntsman Cancer Institute. She loved to spoil her grandchildren and spend time with her daughters and their families. She loved to shop and was always surprising those she loved with gifts and treats. Marlene lived for her frequent trips to Wendover and Las Vegas, where she could play slot machines for hours. She had a passion for good food and enjoyed eating steak, sushi, fried chicken, and crab legs with her family. Marlene will always be remembered for her homemade chicken noodle soup, spaghetti, french fries, and unrivaled canned pickles. She loved her garden, the mountains, and the beach, and she spent her final vacation enjoying time on the Oregon Coast eating oysters and watching her grandchildren and Nikki play.

Anyone who had the pleasure of meeting Marlene felt the love she emanated to those around her. She was the type of person who could make a new friend anywhere she went and was the first to offer up her home for anyone who needed it. She leaves behind so many whose lives were made better by being lucky enough to have her in them, even if only for a short time.

At Marlene’s request, no formal funeral will be held, but we invite you share your memories here and celebrate her life in your own way (preferably while listening to Madonna).