Herbert Marshall Johnson Jr. D.O. of Aberdeen, Washington, passed away on May 27, 2019, in Olympia, Washington at Providence St. Peter Hospital surrounded by his loving family. The son of Herbert Marshall Johnson Sr. and Loucyette (Kizer) Johnson, he was born on Dec. 14, 1939, in Cape Girardeau, Missouri. This December he would have embarked on his 80th year of life.

He graduated from high school in Pine Bluff, Arkansas and Henderson State College in Arkadelphia, Arkansas. He earned his Medical Doctorate from Kirksville College of Osteopathy and Surgery in Kirksville, Missouri. He then performed his internship at Carson City Hospital in Carson City, Michigan where he was introduced to his future wife Patricia Ann Rayburn on a blind date that was set-up by her family physician. He asked Patricia to marry him on their first date and suggested they get married the next weekend because it would work well for his medical rotation schedule, though it would be four months later, on May 21, 1966, when they married. They moved to Trenton, Michigan, to undertake his medical residency in anesthesiology through Detroit Osteopathic Hospital Association at Riverside Hospital.

Upon completion of his residency, Herb and Pat moved back to Carson City where he began his medical practice in anesthesiology, and they started a family giving birth to Nathan Zachary and Kirsten Nicole. After living for 13 years in Michigan, Herb and Pat decided to take their adventure to the Pacific Northwest where they began their new life in Central Park, a suburb of Aberdeen, Washington.

Herb opened his family practice in Aberdeen in October 1977, eventually moving his practice to Hoquiam. He retired in September 2015 after 38 years of serving the Grays Harbor community. During his time in practice he served as Chief of Staff and on various medical committees at Grays Harbor Community Hospital.

Herb was a caring physician that regarded each of his patients as individuals with a story and life history that genuinely interested him. He did more than just accept people, he embraced them – regardless of culture, religion, upbringing, or circumstances. His staff was the backbone of his practice and his nurses through the years — Sharon Godfrey, Barb Carlberg, Shirley Miller and Sharon Eaton — complemented him as a physician.

Outside of medicine, Herb was a collector of knowledge and experiences. His youngest sister Melody referred to him as a Renaissance Man of the First Order, a description that embodied him perfectly. His mother had been a well-respected teacher and instilled the importance of education in her children, which remained at the forefront of Herb’s mind throughout his life. Herb served for six years on the Aberdeen School Board during which he personally handed both of his children their high school diplomas.

He was an avid outdoorsman who enjoyed hunting waterfowl on the Mississippi Flyway and bow hunting white tail deer in Michigan. He had a passion for fly fishing and could get lost in the details of intricate fly tying. With family and friends, he created many memories while camping, skiing, sailing and hiking. Herb also possessed a deep sense of humor and laugh that was contagious. He loved a well-meaning practical joke, was a marvelous storyteller and brought color to the lives of those who knew him.

Herb was born into a musical family eventually becoming a student of the classical guitar and music theory. He loved many types of music, particularly jazz, and enjoyed experiencing live concerts. His passion for music led to an exploration into art which he pursued with enthusiasm. The family home and life were filled with art and music. Family was one of Herb’s greatest commitments and meaningful accomplishments in his life. Beyond the many family adventures, he loved sharing deep and thoughtful discussions with them.

Herb, our friend, mentor, brother, husband, father, grandfather and inspiration will be dearly missed, but the twinkle in his eye, gentle spirit, humor, passionate nature and loving soul will live on in those he touched.

Herb is survived by his wife of 53 years Patricia, his son and daughter-in-law Zachary and Kari of Ridgefield, Washington; his daughter Kirsten of Scottsdale, Arizona; his brother and sister-in-law Jim and Karen Johnson of Benton, Arkansas; his sister and brother-in-law Sharon and Dale Gallip of Fishkill, New York, his sister and brother-in-law Melody and Peter Rubie of New York, New York; his grandchildren Kaden and Kortnie; his great-granddaughter Kingsley; his nieces Keesha and Kimbra and his nephew Benjamin.

A celebration of his life will be held on Sunday, July 14, 2019, from 2 p.m. – 4 p.m. at The Rotary Log Pavilion, 1401 Sargent Blvd, Aberdeen, WA 98520.

The family suggests memorials be made to Grays Harbor College Foundation, 1620 Edward P. Smith Drive, Aberdeen, WA 98520; Grays Harbor Community Hospital Foundation, 915 Anderson Dr., Aberdeen, 98520; or Providence St. Peter Hospital, Cardiac Critical Care Unit, 413 Lilly Road NE, Olympia, WA, 98506.

A message of condolence or of a memory can be sent to the family at www.fernhillfuneral.com.

Cremation arrangements are entrusted to Twibell’s Fern Hill Funeral Home in Aberdeen, Washington.