Josephine Johnston

Josephine Elizabeth Johnston was called home to her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ on August 8, 2011, following a short illness. Jo was born to Frederick and Ida Mae (Fellows) LeClair in Raymond, Washington, on March 28, 1923. She was raised in Westport and graduated from Hoquiam High School. After completing several college courses at Grays Harbor Community College, Jo worked for the Department of the Defense in Boston, Massachusetts, where her daughter Janice was born. She later moved to the Tacoma area and married Carl Rosenoff. They had three children: Sandy, Steven, and Patrick.

For several years, Josephine owned the K Street Café, where she was well-known for her wonderful pies. Her love of cooking and baking was appreciated by family and friends alike at the many holiday and celebration gatherings throughout her lifetime. There was always enough go around and share with surprise drop-in visitors, whom she welcomed warmly.

Josephine returned to her hometown of Westport in 1970, where she met and married Harold Green. Together they owned and operated the charter fishing boat “The Santa Claus” until Harold’s death in 1978. She later met and married Al Johnston in Aberdeen, Washington. Together they ministered in helping alcoholics recover through the Twelve Steps Program. Al later succumbed to heart disease. Jo continued to share her love of God’s Word and ministry to others through women’s Bible study and prayer groups and home craft meetings. She loved preparing floral arrangements for Sunday services and other church activities.

She and Donald Fox met through the Welcome Ministry at Evangel Worship Center in Tumwater, now North Star Church of God, and they married on August 24, 2008. They continued with home ministries to various groups of people.

Jo is survived by her loving husband Don; children Sandy O’Neill (Richard), Steven (Shelly), and Patrick; grandsons Eric Paulsen and Greg Rosenoff; granddaughter Kimberly Johnson; and great-grandson Nick Hagberg; and her faithful and loving dog Darby. She is pre-deceased by Carl Rosenoff, Harold Green, Al Johnston, and her pre-born daughter, twin to Steven.

Jo will be greatly missed by her family and friends who were fortunate enough to have known this amazing woman this side of eternity. Well done, Mom! We’ll see you on the other side!