Gary Kent Johnson, 82, passed away on Thursday August 23, 2018 at his home in Bellevue, Washington after a courageous fight with cancer. He was with his family at the time of his passing. He was born April 16,1936 in Provo, Utah to the late Clyde LeRoy Johnson and Ruth Laie Taylor Johnson. Gary attended Provo City public schools graduating from BY High in 1954. He attended the University of Utah and graduated in 1958 receiving a BS Degree in Pharmacy. Gary served in the Army National Guard from 1952-1961. He married Mary Joyce Crowther on August 26,1955 in the Salt Lake City Temple. They are the parents of four children, with fourteen grandchildren, and eight great-grandchildren. Professionally, Gary had a distinguished career as a management education company executive and owner of WMI Corporation. Out of college Gary began employment with Roche Laboratories in 1958 as a sales representative. In 1962 he began as a sales trainer in Denver, was transferred to the Bay Area, and then later that same year ended up in Bellevue as a division manager. In 1969 Gary and Bill McKinley started the first Xerox Learning Center in Seattle for corporations seeking training for employees in sales and productivity. Later, Gary developed custom training programs for local corporations, eventually developing generic training products for corporations nationwide. This company became WMI Corporation. Gary created, wrote, developed, produced and promoted the following training programs: Select the Best, 1976; Antitrust Untangled, 1977; The Utilities Management Series, 1979; Performance Appraisal, 1981; QSE Quality Service Everytime, 1990; Continuous Performance Improvement, 1993. Gary had a full life outside of work. He held membership in the Classic Car Club of America and enjoyed buying, restoring, and showing classic cars. He and Joyce traveled with many Car Tours and caravanned across America, often taking their grandchildren with them. Gary spent many hours happily working in his fully equipped, showroom quality garage. In 1963, Gary and Joyce bought property on Waldron Island, in the San Juan Islands. In 1973 they spent the summer building a Panabode log cabin. Going to the cabin became a favorite family tradition. Gary remained an avid fisherman, catching salmon just weeks before his passing. He loved fishing off of his new boat, the Grey Ghost. Gary loved his dogs, especially his hunting dogs. Some might say, joking of course, that his dogs were better educated than his children. They were Master Hunters and received many awards and ribbons. Gary enjoyed hunting in Eastern Washington and North Dakota for deer, pheasants and elk. Gary was a faithful member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and served in various leadership positions throughout his membership including Bishop of the Bellevue Young Single Adults Ward. His favorite calling in the church was teaching the 16 and 17 year-old young men in the priests quorum. Gary loved sharing the gospel and was beloved by all who knew and served with him. Those left to cherish his memory are his beloved wife of 63 years, Mary Joyce Crowther Johnson; one daughter, Mary Ann Harvey and husband Kirk of Bellevue; three sons, Gary Kent Johnson, Jr. and wife Laurel of Issaquah; Brent James Johnson and wife Stephanie of Everett; Jeremy Clyde Johnson and wife Krissi of Hickory, North Carolina; and grandchildren Easton James Harvey of Murray, Utah; Jessica Ann Harvey Darboe and husband Sulayman of Lake Stevens; Erika Lynne Harvey of Bellevue; Oliver Kent Johnson and wife Julie of Provo, Utah; Ariel Laie Johnson Sabin and husband Mark of San Antonio, Texas; Dillon Brent Johnson and wife Haley of Provo, Utah; Chloe Laie Johnson Freeman and husband Ryan of Olympia; Paisley Nikell Johnson of Provo, Utah; Gavin Joseph Johnson of Everett; Sarah Kate Johnson Stanley and husband PJ of Provo, Utah; Jake Clyde Johnson of Provo, Utah; Zachary Justus Johnson of Hickory, North Carolina. Gary is preceded in death by his two brothers, Brent Taylor Johnson and Clyde LeRoy Johnson, Jr. In lieu of flowers, please make donations to cancer research or a charity of your choice.
Our most sincere sympathies to the family and friends of Gary K Johnson 2018.
Flintoft’s Funeral Home & Crematory
Death notice for the town of: Issaquah, state: Washington