Joline Catharine Johnson

Joline Catherine Johnson, "Cassie", rode off into the sunset on August 28, 2015, at Kittitas Valley Hospital, surrounded by family and friends. She was born July 9, 1931, to Jack and Mabel (Jones) Ness in Ellensburg. Born into a logging family, she grew up in the Liberty - Swauk area, and in 1944 moved to Ellensburg with her family. She attended Ellensburg High School and graduated with the class of 1949.

Through friends she met Wayne Johnson, a logger from Cle Elum. She took a liking to him and his new 1949 Ford car, and they were married November 19, 1949. They spent many years together enjoying camping, boating, and snowmobiling with their many friends. Throughout the years she worked at Dean's TV, Central Washington University Bookstore, and doing the books for their log truck business. In 1967 they adopted their daughter, Patti.

Cassie always had a love of horses. Weekends were spent with Patti's horse shows. Cassie joined Silver Spurs and the Equestrian Women riding group. When Top Hands was formed, she joined and spent many years running the cowboy shack and volunteering at various other jobs during the Rodeo. She rode in many parades, and loved going to the National Rodeo Finals. She made many rodeo friends.

In 2001, she decided she wanted to become a "snowbird" and went to Mesa, Arizona for three months. She fell in love with Mesa and bought a place there. She enjoyed the warmer winters and the many friends she made. She returned home in 2012 to be closer to her family.

She is survived by her daughter Patti Johnson, of Seattle; granddaughters Hailee (Mitch) Snyder of Prosser, McKenna Musselwhite of Ellensburg, and Kylie Musselwhite of Yakima; great-grandchildren Eeliah "Ellie May" and Evan Snyder of Prosser; sisters Roberta Haire and family of Ellensburg, Paula (Dale) Simpson and family of Ellensburg; brothers Al (Estelle) Johnson and family of Ellensburg, Frank (Ellen) Johnson and family of Reedsport, Oregon, and many life-long friends.

She was preceded in death by her husband Wayne of 41 years, her father and mother, her brother John, and brother-in-law Russ Haire. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Cassie's name to the Kittitas Valley Firefighters Life Support, PO Box 981, Ellensburg, WA 98926, or a charity of your choice .

Services will be held at Steward & Williams Tribute Center, Friday, September 11, at 11 a.m., with a potluck to follow at the Moose Lodge, 206 N. Main Street.

Special thanks to the staff at KVH, Dr. Birger and Dr. Kirshner, The Moose Lodge, Steward & Williams, and all her friends and family.

You may be gone but you will never be forgotten and will be in our daily thoughts and hearts forever. We love you.