Obituary of Byron A. Johnson

FALMOUTH - Byron Allen Johnson died peacefully at Sedgewood Commons in Falmouth, Maine, on July 9, 2015 surrounded by his loving family. He was born in Duluth, Minnesota on August 21, 1926, to Stuart and Lucy (Wright) Johnson. He graduated from Denfeld High School in 1944 and promptly enlisted in the Navy to serve at the end of World War II. He married Shirley (Johnson) Johnson in 1947. After graduating from the University of Minnesota-Duluth with a major in finance (thanks to the GI bill), he began a 30 year career with Diamond International, taking Byron and his family from Minnesota, to Connecticut, Massachusetts, and Maine. After leaving Diamond International, he became the general manager for Hardwood Products in Guilford, Maine, for 15 years. In each community, Byron was very active in his church, civic organizations and volunteer work. He and Shirley enjoyed a well earned retirement of traveling, visiting friends and family, public service work, and most important to them, time with their daughters and grandchildren. Byron was an avid golfer, fisherman, reader, political junkie, soapbox orator and landscaper of each piece of property he owned over the years. He faithfully and cheerfully accomplished all tasks listed on his endless “honey-do” lists. He loved time spent puttering in, and fixing, his daughters’ homes, going to camp on North Pond with family, attending any function involving his grandchildren, and also was a great supporter of their theatrical and sports endeavors. He was a loyal and devoted husband and was an extraordinary caregiver for Shirley for the last two years of her life. He is predeceased by his parents; Shirley, his wife of 53 years; his brother Stuart and wife Margaret; and his brother-in-law Gus Turbeville. He is survived by his family who loved him dearly: daughters Barbara Merritt, Laurie Malcolm and husband Cliff, Nancy Fannon and husband Teg Glendon; grandchildren Tim Merritt and wife Katie, Betsy Merritt, Jennifer Malcolm-Brown and husband Jamie, Joan Malcolm, John Malcolm, Jeff Fannon and wife Sarah and Mike Fannon; great-grandchildren Sam and Will Malcolm-Brown and Owen Merritt; sister-in-law, Joanne Turbeville; several nieces and nephews. Byron’s family will be forever thankful for the care of all the staff at Sedgewood Commons. He was a valued member of their community and he was treated by all with the respect, kindness, gentleness and concern that he so richly deserved. A memorial service is scheduled for Saturday, August 15, 2015 at 9:30 a.m. at First Lutheran Church, 132 Auburn Street, Portland, Maine. Burial will take place later in his home town of Duluth, Minnesota. In lieu of flowers, please send donations to Camp Calument Lutheran, P. O. Box 236, W. Ossippee, NH, 03890 or The Alzheimer’s Association of Maine, 3383 US Route One, Suite 2C, Scarborough, ME 04074.