Gaylon Johnson

Gaylon Keith Johnson 85, left this world Saturday March 17, 2018 at Kootenai Health in Coeur d’Alene, ID. Gaylon was born June 23,1932 in Watford City, North Dakota. He was the only child to Theodore and Mary (Gudmundson) Johnson. They moved to Coeur d’Alene, ID in 1937 when he was 5 years old.

Gaylon attended school in Coeur d’Alene starting 1st grade at Roosevelt Elementary. He played football and baseball for Coeur d’Alene high school. He joined the National Guard when he was 15 years old and worked with a construction company as a teenager. He met his wife Adella (Hayward) in high school, and they dated after graduating. He graduated from Coeur d’Alene High School in 1950, and to this day has remained close friends with many of his classmates.

Prior to his deployment, Gaylon and Adella were engaged and later married in March of 1953 upon his return from Korea. Gaylon worked at Automatic Electric installing dial equipment. Then moved with this job to Wenatchee WA, Kalispell, MT, and Pecos, TX until he began his career in 1953 with General Telephone Electric in Coeur d’Alene, ID. Gaylon completed several positions with GTE including manager and Dial Office Administrator then retiring after 32½ years. Throughout his career he made many close friends including his best friend H.W. Skip White. He and Adella were also involved in the Jaycees in Coeur d’Alene.

Gaylon LOVED the outdoors...he loved horseback riding, hunting, fishing, camping and boating. His falls were filled with great hunting trips packing in the backcountry on his packstring of horses and mules, and his summers were filled with every fishing adventure imaginable. His passion for photography captured many of these adventures.

Gaylon had a brilliant mind. He could build, invent, and fix, ANYTHING!! He owned his own business where he designed and fabricated thousands of things. He was a master woodworker, welder, and seamstress. Being self-taught, there wasn’t anything he couldn’t figure out. He thrived on challenges that came his way and was always working on a project of some kind.

The couple was blessed with their first daughter Lori born in January of 1960, and their second daughter Donita in May of 1967. He loved taking them on vacations, and traveled all over the country in their camper and blue international truck. He was supportive and involved in everything his girls did. Family holidays and traditions were a big part of who he was. Gaylon loved being a father in law and Grandpa to “his boys”. He loved sharing his passions and knowledge and watching them grow.

Gaylon leaves behind his wife of 65 years Adella Johnson, his daughter, Lori Johnson of Spokane, WA, daughter Donita (Johnson) Graves, husband Brian Graves, and Grandsons Cody Graves and Ryan Graves, of Post Falls, ID, his loyal golden retriever Decker, and so many dear, dear friends.

Gaylon was the most kind, caring and compassionate person who lived life to it’s fullest!! He never met a stranger... he loved people and conversation. He truly cared about each person he met. And anyone who ever knew him, knows he was the BEST storyteller ever!! He touched so many lives during his time here on earth. This incredible man, husband, father, grandpa, friend, storyteller, will be missed deeply!

Heaven gained an incredible angel, who will be missed so much by all of us here on earth.There will be a Funeral Service held on Tuesday April 3, 2018 at 2:00 PM at English Funeral Chapel, 1133 N. Fourth Street Coeur d' Alene, ID. The Graveside Service with Military Honors will be held on Wednesday April 4, 2018 at 2:00 PM at Riverview Cemetery in Coeur d' Alene.