Virginia Lee Johnson

Virginia (Ginger) was born in Fremont, Nebraska, to Walter (Micky) and Beulah Mc Guire. When Virginia was young the family moved to Oregon and settled in the Portland area. She was the second of six children. She and her older sister Patty were both baptized on April 24, 1945. The family eventually moved to the Coos Bay area. The family attended the Kingdom Hall of Jehovah’s Witnesses and it was there that Virginia met Randy Johnson when his family came to visit. Much to their parents dismay, the young couple ended up eloping then moved to The Dalles, Oregon. A few years later, after having their first daughter Sherrylin they moved back to Coos Bay and it was there that they had their son David. Sherrylin remembers Mom working as a server on roller skates at a drive up in Coos Bay in the 50’s. She and her dad would go there to eat at the end of Mom’s shift and pick her up. There they lived in a cute 2-bedroom home with a fully functioning “out house” in the back yard and a water pump in the kitchen sink. The living room had a wood burning stove, which eventually caught the home on fire and burned completely down one evening. Virginia and Randy always yearned to live without the rain, so they headed for southern California. They settled in Ventura and bought a home where they had their third child, Lori. They lived just a few blocks away from the West congregation of Jehovah’s Witnesses, so they usually walked to the meetings. It was at this time they had the privilege of having the book study group in their home and would host lunches for the traveling circuit overseers when possible. Dodger Stadium conventions were a yearly event. Virginia worked as a waitress for most of the 60’s and started going by the name Ginger. Once her first two children were grown, Ginger and Randy sold their home to get away from the mud slides and fires that living up against a hill often produced and bought a home on the other side of town with a swimming pool. Lori has fond memories of her mom hosting many activities for Lori and her friends such as camping, river rafting, traveling, or just having gatherings at their pool. In the Spring of 1981, Ginger decided to invest in a business of making and selling western hats. She traveled around several States during the fair and rodeo seasons to sell her creations. She “roped” in her kids and grandkids to work with her as often as she possibly could. Her grandchildren benefited by getting free access to fairs, face paintings, and ride tickets. She was an extremely hard-working and driven person. Virginia worked like a man and was strong inside and out. In 2000 she sold her business. In 2011 due to health reasons, she moved to Oregon where her eldest daughter Sherrylin was living. Lori followed a year later. As aspects of her health deteriorated, she moved to an assisted living facility where she lived for several years. In her final 6 months she lived at Brookdale Senior Living where she received close care and attention. It was while living there she suffered her 2nd stroke and died 11 days later. It is interesting to note that she died on the exact same day as Randy did twelve years earlier. She especially enjoyed attending the weekly spiritual meetings of Jehovah’s Witnesses and the Bible conventions whenever her health would allow. Additional favorites were going on road trips, chocolate, Mexican food and visits to the ocean.