Marjorie Ellen (Ward) Johnston of Port Townsend died peacefully in her sleep Sept. 17, 2022. She was 95.
Born Jan. 18, 1927 to Earl and Florence (McClanahan) Ward of Quilcene, Marjorie and her four siblings learned a love for the outdoors on their folks’ property, assisting with milking the cows, gardening, and looking after each other as the family emerged from the Great Depression, operating a butcher shop and dairy.
Marjorie met Charles “Wes” Johnston while in high school, and during World War II the couple carried on a long-distance romance by Victory Mail, with Wes serving in the Coast Guard overseas while she worked as a waitress and switchboard operator back home. Wes was injured in the West Loch disaster at Pearl Harbor and was mustered back to the states. The two married shortly thereafter, first settling in Seattle and then to their forever home in Port Townsend.
As their family grew, the pair single-handedly added two bedrooms, a new kitchen, and a patio to their one-bedroom house, and always maintained a large vegetable garden. Quality family time was usually centered outdoors, where they enjoyed camping, hunting, fishing, and taking road trips to places like the Oregon Coast, Eastern Washington, and Canada. Wes and Marjorie loved rockhounding, square dancing, and were active in the Presbyterian Church for many years.
When the three kids reached school age, Marjorie went to work at the Water Street JC Penney, next door to Wes’ barber shop. She began in the basement working freight, eventually moving up to the sales floor and then to office manager. Many young people got their first real job experience on her watch.
Upon retirement, Wes and Marjorie traveled some and doted on grandchildren. They made trips to Hawaii, making many happy new memories to soften those left over from the war. Wes became a pilot, Marjorie honed her holiday pie-making skills, and they continued to welcome new grandchildren. Wes passed in 1999, and Marjorie continued on in the home they made together, living there for a remarkable 75 years.
She is survived by sons, John (Pat) and Don (Lynn); daughter, Janice Wyman; sister, Carol Borden; seven grandchildren; and eight great-grandchildren.
A service will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 15 at New Life Church, 1636 Hastings Ave., followed by a gravesite service at Quilcene Cemetery.
