Raymond Johnson

Ray Johnson was a man who knew how to have fun. Whether it was fishing with his friends, camping with his family, or traveling with his beloved wife, Ray enjoyed every second of his life. He especially loved lighthouses, for their beauty, history, and purpose. Just like those lighthouses, Ray lit the way for those around him, such a light in the life of all who knew him. Rays story began on a cool fall day in 1944, as the leaves turned Muskegons shores into a sea of color against the lakes blue backdrop. Those were difficult days around the globe, as World War IIs costly battles raged on overseas. Yet on October 23, 1944, Ralph and Mabel Doris (St. John) Johnson found a reason to celebrate, with the birth of their first child, a baby boy they named Raymond Ivan Johnson. Rays dad was a snow-plow driver for Muskegon County, and his mother was a strong-willed homemaker. Ray was joined by his little sister Sandra in the familys home, which thanks to his mothers nomadic nature, was located in several places around Muskegon over the years. Ray attended Jolman School, where he met his lifelong friends, John Sherriff and Dave McIntire. The trio was truly the Three Musketeers of Muskegon, and shared many, many adventures over the years. Ray grew up with a great love for adventure, and especially loved hunting, fishing and camping, which were lifelong passions for him. Ray eventually attended Muskegon High School, and was a very popular student. He was a cool kid, a real Greaser with slicked-back hair and his prized 54 Ford hotrod he loved working on. When Ray was a senior at Muskegon, he met a beautiful young junior classmate named Nancy Grams, who had the same art class he did. It was love at first sight for both of them, and Nancy knew after three days she was in love with Ray! They dated for three years, a romance filled with dances and plenty of fun, before they were married at Samuel Lutheran Church on June 19, 1965. Ray worked at Browne-Morse for a time, and later held a job at Shaw Box. After several enjoyable years as a machinist, he decided that is was time for a change and soon went to work at JC Penneys in the stereo department, and developed a penchant for retail. It wasnt long before the newlyweds became parents, too. Ray and Nancy were blessed with three fine sons over the years, first by Brian in 1966, then Brad in 1969, and Brent rounded out the family in 1974. Ray was an enormously proud father, and loved being with his sons every chance he had. He began taking them fishing and hunting from an early age, going on Boys trips a few times each year, some shared with Dave and his sons. Favorite destinations included Brush Lake, Pebawma Lake, Irons, Patterson Park and the U.P. They always had plenty of stories from their adventures. The boys loved the U.P. so much, in fact, two of them went to college there. Ray tried to never miss any of their events when they were in school, often racing north up U.S. 31 after work to be there on time. Ray provided for his family well, and eventually went to work at the Grand Haven Meijers as a manager in 1975. He remained with Meijer until he retired 28 years later in 2004. It was a good job, and gave Ray and his family a good life. They had a lovely home in Muskegon, complete with a pool, where plenty of fun times were had in the summers. The family lived their lives together, and were faithful members of Dr. Martin Luther Lutheran Church in Muskegon. They also enjoyed boating and waterskiing on Mona Lake with friends and family, or fishing on the Muskegon River, having a few beers and more than a few laughs as the days floated by. Ray and Nancy traveled often together, visiting the many lighthouses found around the country. Ray always loved lighthouses, loved the majesty of them, standing sentinel on the shoreline, lighting the way for the ships coming home. He visited many of the lighthouses around the country over the years, visiting both coasts, and throughout Michigan, too (and had the pictures to prove it!). Ray and Nancy always found time to be alone together, as well. Even if it was just one night a week, they found a sitter and went out for some live music and dancing, happy to be together, truly best friends and soulmates. After the kids had grown, Ray and Nancy loved going to the Florida Keys, just for a week or two at a time at first, then later spending an entire month in Marathon Key. Ray and his son Brian also spent a month there helping rebuild after the destruction of hurricane Wilma. Ray and Nancy loved to travel. They frequented the southwest, the northwest, both coasts, or whichever state their sons happened to be living or working in. The kids remember their dads visits, when theyd head off to the bar to play some pool together. Ray was also content to be close to home, and close to his family, especially when his grandkids arrived. He was so thrilled to be a granddad, and he doted on them, and loved listening to them play piano, the proud grandpa he was. They had many wonderful family gatherings, and were a very close-knit clan. Ray began having trouble remembering things late in 2006, and it was soon discovered he had brain cancer. He bravely fought it, undergoing surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy, and it helped for awhile. In the summer of 2007, along with his three sons, Ray fulfilled his life long dream of boating the Mississippi River. Eventually, though, the cancer returned, and Ray died peacefully in his sleep on Saturday, December 8, 2007, at the age of 63. Ray was such a wonderful man, who lived a wonderful life, a life so full of family and fond memories. He was the quintessential, fun-loving family man, a man with a great love for life, and a greater love for the people in it. More than anything, Ray was a beloved husband, father, grandfather and friend, and truly a light in the life of all who knew him. He will be so greatly missed. Ray is survived by his wife of 42 years, Nancy; 3 sons, Brian (Lena Usyk) Johnson of Grand Rapids, Brad (Lauren) Johnson of Muskegon, Brent (Genevieve) Johnson of Highland, IN; 8 grandchildren, Derek, Micah, Kaitlyn, Emily, Nathaniel, Hannah, Veronica, Rebecca; father, Ralph (Ann) Johnson of Muskegon; sister, Sandra Davis of OR; Father-in-law Joseph Grams; Godchildren, Courtney, Melissa; and many nieces, nephews, cousins and in-laws. Services are scheduled for Wednesday, December 12, 2007, at 11:00 AM at Dr. Martin Luther Lutheran Church with Pastor Dennis Stroh and Pastor Bob Grams officiating. Visitation is Tuesday, 6-8 PM at Clock Life Story Funeral Home - Muskegon. Memorial donations may be made to Dr. Martin Luther Lutheran Church or Harbor Hospice. Please visit www.lifestorynet.com to share a memory or photo, or to sign the online guest book.