Doris Johnson

Dottie was born on February 23, 1930 to Herbert Duel King and Mertie (Harris) King in Knob Lick, Kentucky. They lived the life of a country tobacco farming family; raising much of their own food, in a house with no electricity or running water. She and her two sisters attended school in a one room, grades 1 through 8 schoolhouse about a mile from home.

When she was 16 years old, Dottie and her two sisters moved to Tacoma, WA and lived with her mother and step-father.

In 1947, she met a dashing young sailor by the name of Bertil Johnson, and her life changed forever. Dottie and Bert married January 12, 1948. A little less than a year later, they had their first child, Larry, and shortly thereafter settled in Lacey, WA, where she had her second child, Robert, 4 years later.

Dottie worked as a checker in the grocery business, and for several years worked for Ralph’s Thriftway in Lacey, as well as the Dairy Queen in Lacey.

She was an avid fan of her children’s sports teams. Her voice seemed to carry more than most people’s, and she could be heard yelling across the field or gym.

In 1967, she and Bert began moving because of his job. They lived in several locations across the country before moving back to Lacey in 1983. During those years, they saw and experienced much of America they had not previously seen.

When Bert passed away in 2011, her life changed again. She moved to Colonial Inn in Olympia, where she developed many friendships in the 6 years that she lived there.

Dottie was preceded in death by her husband, Bert, and her son, Robert. She is survived by her son, Larry, and his wife Lora as well as 4 grandchildren, 5 great grandchildren and 2 great great grandchildren

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.millsandmillsfunerals.com for the Johnson family.