Dorothy Louise Harris Johnson

Dorothy Louise Harris Johnson was born May 31st, 1919 in Dallas, TX to the union of Mable and Henry Harris. Dorothy loved Jesus and was baptized as a child. She attended Wiley College in Texas and earned her BA in Education. She found and married the love of her life in Clifford Paul (CP) Johnson in 1943 and later converted to Catholicism. They remained inseparable until his death in 1988. They were never blessed with children. In 1958, Dorothy and CP relocated to Seattle to help raise her sister’s children. Dorothy received her Master’s degree in Special Educ. at the UW. As a teacher and then Coordinator of Special Education for the Shoreline Schools, Dorothy was a nationally recognized expert by President Lyndon Johnson, locally by the State of WA, and Washington Education Association. Her expertise was innovative learning techniques to increase learning. Dorothy introduced Special Olympics to Washington. In 1961, the family moved to Bothell. Dorothy and CP became loyal and active members of St. Brendan’s Church. Dorothy loved to socialize and graciously welcomed new acquaintances into her life. She hosted weddings and hundreds of parties at the home. Dorothy touched, inspired and enhanced the lives of many with and without learning disabilities. She had a way of showing those she met, their worth, skills and untapped abilities. She developed and orchestrated the CP Johnson Humanitarian Award for students in the Northshore Schools. Dorothy loved to travel throughout the U.S., Africa, Caribbean, China, Europe, and Japan. Following a hip fracture, Dorothy decided to relocate to Riverside East, an engaging community in Bothell. In her stay, she lived up to their motto – Bring Life To Retirement. She did just that! She brought her furniture, love, family, old and new friends to her new home where it became her final place to offer hospitality, warmth and refuge for everyone she encountered! Dorothy was preceded in death by her loving husband of 44 years; mother, father and her sister, Freddie Braxton. Those who will miss her include, but are not limited to, her nieces Dorothy Logans, Freddie Braxton; nephew Robert Braxton; six grand nephews and nieces; five great grand nieces and nephews; a multitude of cousins and a very large number of friends. Because Dorothy loved Wiley College and education for all, the family requests remembrances to www.wileyc.edu/give.asp.

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