Gloria Estelle Johnson

Gloria passed away peacefully on October 14, 2014 surrounded by her husband of 60 years and family. She was just shy of her 92nd birthday. She was born and raised in New York City. She attended Barnard College (B.A. English with a French minor); Columbia University (M.A. and Ph.D. English) and won a Fulbright to Oxford University. In England is where she met her husband Gerald and where the two later married in London. After residing in England for several years they moved to North America and settled in Eugene, Oregon. In 1956, she joined the English Department at the University of Oregon, specializing in Shakespeare. One student wrote” Her classroom was an energized, exciting place to be. I know I always did my best and my perception was that other students also did. We often came to realize what our best could be under Dr. Johnson’s guidance.”

She embodied an amazing faith and would express daily how blessed she was for her family and her many friendships she and her husband shared.

She leaves behind her husband Gerald; her daughter Frances and son-in-law Bart Anderson, her son David and daughter-in-law Kimber Bishop, her daughter Cecilia and son-in-law John Lively; grandchildren Andrew Johnson, Haley and Julia Anderson and Casie, Ben and Dan Lively.

She was loved by many. She was an incredible wife, an amazing mother, a wonderful friend, and an inspirational teacher. She will be missed by all who had the beauty of knowing her.

There will be a memorial service at 2 o’clock, November 29, 2014 at St. Matthews Episcopal Church, 4110 River Road in Eugene. The family asks in lieu of flowers to consider a memorial gift in her memory to the University of Oregon for the English Department. She would always state that there was so much to learn.