Carlin McClary Johnson

Carlin McClary Johnson, 65, of Apex, North Carolina, went to her Heavenly Home on Monday, December 22, 2025, at 6:30 PM after a six-year fight with colon cancer. The unanimous response to the news of her passing has been, “She was such a light.” Indeed, she was one of our brightest and best.

Carlin was born in Redding, California, to Lola and Douglas McClary. She was one of four siblings. In middle school, a woman taught her to do a layup—an encounter that sparked her love for basketball and changed her life. Through tenacity, grit, hard work, and a love for the game, she went on to become a highly recruited All-American high school basketball player. She followed in the footsteps of her father and grandfather as an outstanding scholarship basketball player at the University of Washington, where she was a four-year starter and team captain. Her name appears numerous times in the UW Women’s Basketball record books.

While at an away game in her final semester of college, she received news of her father’s tragic and unexpected passing. Distraught and unsure of how to process her grief, she took to the hilly streets of Seattle to run until she could not run anymore. What may have begun as a destructive behavior turned into a lifeline for her. She would be a runner until her final breath.

Following college, she joined Weyerhaeuser Company as a Human Resources professional intern. After two years working in the Pacific Northwest, she relocated with Weyerhaeuser to Plymouth, North Carolina, where she met her future husband, Mark Johnson. They married, settled in Apex, NC, and raised three wonderful children in a home they still own today. Many memories were created here—from birthday parties to backyard bonfires, Christmases to graduations, barbecues to homecomings. “The Apex House” is special. Carlin made it special for all who entered its doors, whether friends, family, or strangers.

Carlin was whimsical, candid, fun-loving, caring, spontaneous, gifted, athletic, and passionate. She truly saw people and gave freely to all, especially those from whom she could gain nothing. In many ways, a life is measured by its legacy. By that measure, her life was outstanding. As a middle and high school basketball coach, she affected the lives of hundreds of male and female basketball players. As a faithful member of the United Methodist Church, she gave of her time, talents, and treasures freely in countless ways both locally and district-wide. She went on to bring to fruition, as co-chair, the annual Race of Grace in Raleigh. This race was the bishop’s vision to hold an annual ecumenical 5K run in Raleigh to raise awareness and funds to battle local homelessness.

As a loving mother, she raised three God-fearing children who carry her same DNA and love for people. As a wife, she supported her husband as he provided a stable and loving home for their children and all who entered their home.

In 2018, Carlin began experiencing digestive issues that were left undiagnosed and untreated. In 2019, she endured a fall while running. Upon examination, the doctor found a cracked rib and noticed some “shadows” on her lungs. Carlin soon received a heartbreaking diagnosis—stage 4 colon cancer that had metastasized into her lungs. Until her last visit, she never asked her oncologist to forecast her life expectancy, trusting that her days were already numbered by God. Although we never received a prognosis, we imagined it would be far shorter than the six years she ultimately endured.

In classic competitive and countercultural Carlin fashion, she refused traditional chemotherapy treatment and set out to learn everything she could about this disease. Over those six years, she gathered and documented an extraordinary amount of research on alternative treatments. She documented her findings meticulously in personal journals and summarized them in CaringBridge entries. She committed herself to exercise, nutrition, and non-traditional protocols alongside non-chemotherapy treatments, which drastically extended her life and gave her six GOOD years. We will treasure these years and those that preceded for a lifetime.

We learned countless lessons from Carlin through her 65 wonderful years. A few that stand out follow:

· Smile big - Carlin knew a smile was free but held deep power. She was liberal with her beautiful smile. It lit up every room she entered and affected anyone who received it.

· Take risks - Carlin believed that a life well-lived was one that did not settle for status quo. She encouraged her children and friends to chase their dreams and not fear the consequences.

· Ask forgiveness - Carlin was very introspective and aware of her failings. But she was quick to own her mistakes, ask forgiveness, and seek reconciliation.

· Love sacrificially - Carlin was a true servant leader at heart. She was not boisterous or showy but sacrificed her own interests for the interests of others.

· Show up - Carlin made time for others, often at her own expense. She was many people’s biggest cheerleader. Her presence gave confidence and hope.

· Don’t sweat the little things - Carlin had perspective that allowed her to see past momentary difficulties in light of eternal reality. She did not allow little things to steal her peace.

· See people - Carlin noticed and engaged with the least and the lost. She did not give extra attention to those from whom she stood to gain personally. She treated everyone with dignity.

· Speak life - Carlin understood the power of her words and chose them wisely. She spoke to the life gifts that she saw in others and encouraged people, knowing that her words carried profound weight.

· Give good gifts - Carlin was thoughtful and generous. She was vigilant. She noticed needs and wants and filled them with timely gifts.

· Prioritize family - Carlin was a wonderful mother and loved spending time with her children and husband. She put her personal agendas on the back burner to make sure she was available and supportive of her family.

· Live with passion - Carlin was passionate and did not apologize for it. She was bold with what she believed and stood for what was right.

· Love Jesus - Above all else, Carlin realized that a life well-lived was one centered upon Christ. “Now this is eternal life: that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent.” She knew true life and loved it, even to death.

We will cherish these lessons and will carry them on for a lifetime. Carlin’s legacy is carried on by those who go and do likewise.

Carlin is survived by her devoted husband, Mark; her three children Lindsey, Gabriel, and Adria; her three siblings Coleman McClary, Cam McClary, and Cathy McClary Ludwig, and countless dear friends.

A ceremony in memory of Carlin’s life will be held at Summit Church in Apex, NC, in March. Details to follow.