Jeanette Johnson

Jeanette Johnson, 90, of Zillah, died at home on May 16, 2014. She passed peacefully, after a long illness, surrounded by her loving family. Jeanette Rachel Enright was born on August 15, 1923, in Glendale, CA, to parents John and Rosa Enright. The family moved to Yakima in 1924, where her brother John was born in 1927. Jeanette graduated from Yakima High School in 1941, and Washington State College (now WSU) in 1945. Notably, in college, she served as president of Sigma Nu Fraternity, as the young men were serving their country in the armed forces during WWII. Though she knew her future husband, Forrest William Johnson, only in passing during high school, their relationship developed during the college years, and they married on March 3, 1946. The young couple spent time in Renton, both Yakima Park and Paradise at Mt Rainier (during Forrest’s tenure as a Park Ranger), and Ellensburg, before settling in Zillah to raise a family and tend a farm. Four children were born to Jeanette and Forrest: Anna Christina (died at birth in 1949), Nancy Sue, Forrest Richard (Rick) and Carol Rose. Jeanette would later go on to receive her teaching certificate and master’s degree from Central Washington University. She taught in the Toppenish and Selah school districts. Retiring after the Selah years, she taught ESL classes at Yakima Valley Community College. Her avid intelligence and curiosity fueled her own life-long love of learning, reading, poetry, gardening, traveling, genealogy, crossword puzzles, music, and so much more. Retirement found the Johnsons indulging their passion for traveling--trips to Mexico, Central America, Singapore and Bali to name a few--and spending time with family and friends. However, the connection with nature always remained, and Jeanette continued to tend the garden beds surrounding the family home. Rhubarb, strawberries, carrots, squash, and basil were just a small offering of the garden’s bounty, but she is perhaps best known for the carefully tended peonies and roses which grace the corner of Cheyne and Gilbert. Jeanette is survived by husband Forrest and the families of her three children: Nancy Johnson and daughter April (husband Matt) Cameron , son Wil Case; Rick and Hope Johnson and daughters Rachel (husband Jay Miller) Johnson and Jennifer Jennings; Carol Rose Johnson Muller (husband Ray Muller), daughter Miyalani Johnson and son Matthew Muller. Other beloved family members include niece and nephews MaryAnn, Scott and Denney Rutherford, and two great-grandchildren, Ray and Josie Cameron. The family would like to thank those who provided comfort and conversation during these last few months, and to Yakima Valley Memorial Hospice. YVMH made it possible for Jeanette to spend her last days in her home with the people she loved. No formal services are planned at this time. To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Jeanette Johnson, please visit our flower store.