Andrew Ray Johnson

To Andrew Ray Johnson, the entire world was a stage. An expressive, optimistic, and uninhibited individual, he was a performer in the theater of life. To everyone around him, he seemed to be eternally happy, and he willingly shared that joy with anyone whose life he touched. For Andrew, bringing out the best in any situation was as easy as offering a smile, a witty remark or the twinkle of an eye. And with just those simple gestures, he could evoke the most pleasant of emotions. Andrew really mastered the art of living and had great fun in doing so.

Andrew was born on November 22, 1985 at Providence Hospital in Seattle, Washington. His parents were Allen Rice and Lorraine Johnson. Andrew was raised in the Highpoint neighborhood of Seattle. Even as a child, Andrew had the ability to lift the spirits of all those around him. He was raised to be warm, caring and friendly. He couldn’t help but capture everyone’s attention. He was definitely a little bit of a show off, but in doing so, he succeeded in entertaining his entire family.

Always a good playmate, Andrew was easygoing and fun loving. He managed to lighten the mood wherever he was, even during family squabbles. He seemed to have a knack for bringing compromise and erasing tense situations around the house. Due to a generous dose of common sense, Andrew managed to find a satisfying solution to basic problems. Andrew was raised with five siblings. He had three brothers, Allen, David and Bobby, and two sisters Tammy and Susan.

All of Andrew's playful good humor carried over into his childhood. He was possessed with an outgoing personality, a lively imagination and a mellowed enthusiasm for life that allowed him to be constantly on the go. As a result, Andrew experienced a rather active childhood, and this suited him very well. He took part in football and swimming. He liked to climb trees and ride his bike.

Ask anyone who knew him from school and they would tell you that Andrew was a class “cut-up.” He didn’t do it to be unkind or to garner all the attention. Rather, Andrew simply enjoyed others’ laughter and the sounds of his friends and acquaintances having a good time. It could be said that for Andrew, grades may not have been the most important thing to him, but he really did enjoy his school experience. Since experience was Andrew's best teacher. He enjoyed hands-on learning and applying the “practical” approach to knowledge, rather than getting caught up in “theory.” Andrew attended Ingrahm High School. Andrew finished the 11th grade. He enjoyed some courses more than others, having favorite classes and teachers. His favorite class in high school was math.

Andrew never actually encountered a stranger in his dealings with people. He was drawn to individuals and crowds, using his gregarious, adaptable and outgoing personality to captivate his audience. This quality allowed Andrew to continually develop new relationships, ever widening his circle of friends. Andrew delighted in his role among all his acquaintances, because he viewed them all as potential spectators for his performance. Whether it was a story, a joke, a song or just plain fooling around, Andrew was always right at home putting on a show among his friends. Andrew utilized his interest in others as a great way to connect with them. While growing up, some of his best friends were Adan and Francisco. Later, he became friends with, Brian, Cameron, Jordon, his cousins, and other family members. Andrew loved sharing life and having his home filled with people he knew.

The gift of being emotionally expressive and outwardly affectionate made Andrew very easy to approach. On July 14, 2006 Andrew exchanged wedding vows with Vivianna Maria Bilyeu at King County Courthouse of Seattle, Washington. He tried hard not to impose on his spouse. He was always sensitive to other people’s feelings, and that was especially true in marriage.

Perhaps the reason Andrew related so well to children was the fact that he never really completely grew up himself. The ability to be just a “kid at heart” helped him in raising his own children. Andrew was blessed with two sons, Noah and Andrew. Andrew had the ability to focus his attention on the present moment. If he was spending time with the kids, that’s where all of his attention was directed. Andrew's compassionate side prevented him from being a strict disciplinarian, and he could turn just about any situation into a playful, learning experience. He could spend hours entertaining them with fun and creative play. In fact, Andrew had a knack for turning some of those nasty old chores into games.

At work, as in life, Andrew was a real “people person. ” he had a very successful way of dealing effectively with others, and his enthusiasm and energy was often contagious. Andrew liked to see himself as something of a virtuoso. When dealing with various projects and problems, Andrew was an adaptable realist, using his common sense and trusting his experiences and impulses to uncover the correct answer. Andrew's talent for being a down to earth thinker, allowed many around him to see Andrew as an excellent problem solver. His primary occupation was as a laborer working for Mayflower. He wanted to go to school to be a chef.

Andrew enjoyed his leisure time by taking part in various hobbies. An “arts and crafts” type, Andrew liked creating and making things. His favorite pursuits were writing lyrics for rap songs, listening to rap music, writing poetry and playing bingo. Andrew was content to enjoy his hobbies alone but was also willing to share his interests with others.

Andrew felt excited and challenged by sports. Even if he wasn’t the best, Andrew loved to participate and thoroughly enjoyed the competition and the pleasure of being around other people. Andrew relished the opportunities where he could make an impact, and he would often push himself to play above his abilities. A quick thinker who understood the basics, Andrew never seemed to get caught off guard, even when confronted with unexpected conflict. Recreational sports included bowling, swimming and running. Andrew was also something of a sports fan and enjoyed watching his favorite events whenever he got the opportunity. Tops on his list were WWE Wrestling and football.

Living life in the fast lane suited Andrew just fine. It is no surprise that he loved to travel and to visit new and different places. He was naturally curious about other parts of the world and loved the real life adventure that came from visiting them. He was impulsive and willing to try anything once. A favorite vacation was a recent trip to Canada.

Andrew was involved in an accident at 46th Street and Brandon Street in Seattle. He was prematurely take from his family. He is survived by his children, Noah and Andrew; his wife Vivianna Johnson; his sisters Susan and Tammy; and his brothers David, Allen and Bobby.

Andrew brought joy to all of those around him. He never had a mean bone in his body. He loved to have a good time and was an eternal optimist, always looking on the bright side of things. He loved to share his energy, wit, and his zest for all of his activities with his friends and family. Andrew Ray Johnson lived life to its fullest and made everyone around him happier just for knowing him. He will be remembered with a smile.