Dr. Truett Johnson, 75, left earth for Heaven on April 16, 2021, after “having fought the good fight, having finished the course, and having kept the faith.”
Truett was a church minister for over 50 years, serving congregations in Minnesota, Oregon, Illinois and Washington, following in the footsteps of his father, Gordon Enoch Johnson.
South Aberdeen Baptist Church was Dr. Johnson’s last pastorate, where he served for 15 years with his wife, Sandy. Sandy remains at the family home in Westport, where the two of them enjoyed the ocean, birds and sea life.
Truett and Sandy have served as chaplains in the Grays Harbor County Sheriff’s Office (Corrections Division) for the past 20 years as well as the Crime Watch program for Westport. Earlier in his ministry, Truett was also the lead Chaplain for the Clackamas County, Oregon Sherriff’s Department and was beloved by many of the officers.
Born June 4, 1945, to Gordon and Leone Johnson in Minnesota, Truett grew up in Spokane, Washington, where his father was a minister, and then in Southern California, where his Dad began Youth for Christ.
He graduated from California State University, Bethel Theological Seminary (St. Paul, Minnesota) and received his Doctorate at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School in Illinois.
He worked his way through all his higher education, always being employed full-time while going to school. This experience and dedication served him well during the past 20 years as he battled kidney, liver and tongue cancers, as well as leg paralysis. During these years, his favorite Bible verse was, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me” Phil. 4:13.
Truett and Sandy both lost their first spouses by death and were each left with two small children. God brought them together in an amazing way! They legally adopted each other’s children, and then He gave them another child. They were married 45 years.
He is survived by his wife, Sandy, and their children: Nathan (Rebecca) Johnson of Denver, Colorado, Kenneth (Ashley) Johnson of Longview, Texas, Kari (Chris) Heitman of Houston, Texas, Rebecca Johnson of Westport, Jeanette (Matthew) Sweet of Dayton, Oregon, as well as grandchildren Thomas Truett Sweet and Naomi Nicole Sweet.
In addition to enjoying his family, Truett was an accomplished oil painting artist, woodcarver, leatherworker, vocalist and musician. He was also a great reader, having more than 4,000 volumes in his personal library!
Truett was fun-loving and easy to get to know. His sermons were sprinkled with local illustrations, and he enjoyed bringing object lessons to the pulpit to make a point easier to understand.
His family and congregations experienced Truett’s love and willingness to serve. He and Sandy met with parishioners in their homes for teaching and counseling, led camps and clubs for kids, and organized fellowship events for the churches. He even helped men in his church bale hay!
In addition, Truett and Sandy traveled through all 50 states and 23 foreign countries, helping Christian missionaries share the Gospel. He prayed daily for the needs of many people, continuing to study and read the Scriptures.
You are invited to a celebration of life for Truett this Saturday, May 8, at 2 p.m. at Harbor Calvary Chapel, 108 S. “K” Street in Aberdeen, Washington. To join the celebration by watching a “livestream” or to watch at a later date, go to Harbor Calvary Chapel’s Facebook or YouTube page.
In lieu of flowers, please consider sending a donation to Chaplain Sandy Johnson who will use these for the County Jail Ministry as it continues to impact those behind bars with the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Address: P.O. Box 1237, Westport, WA 98595.
