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Gaylon Keith Johnson, 85

Gaylon Keith Johnson, 85, left this world on Saturday, March 17, 2018, at Kootenai Health in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho. Gaylon was born June 23, 1932, in Watford City, N.D. He was the only child to Theodore and Mary (Gudmundson) Johnson. They moved to Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, in 1937 when he was five years old.

Gaylon attended school in Coeur d’Alene, starting first grade at Roosevelt Elementary. He played football and baseball for Coeur d’Alene High School. He joined the National Guard when he was 15 years old and worked with a construction company as a teenager. He met his wife Adella (Hayward) in high school, and they dated after graduating. He graduated from Coeur d’Alene High School in 1950, and to this day has remained close friends with many of his classmates.

Gaylon joined the United States Army in 1950 and attended boot camp in Texas. He deployed to the Korean War in December, where he served as a Staff Sergeant on the front lines in Korea and was in charge of communications. He was discharged in December of 1952 after spending time in a hospital in Japan. He loved serving his country and was proud to be a Korean War Veteran. His service awards were the Korean Service Medal, Bronze Star (Service), Combat Infantry Badge, and United National Service Medal.

Prior to his deployment, Gaylon and Adella were engaged and later married in March of 1953 upon his return from Korea. Gaylon worked at Automatic Electric installing dial equipment. He then moved with this job to Wenatchee Wash., Kalispell, Mont., and Pecos, Texas, until he began his career in 1953 with General Telephone Electric in Coeur d’Alene. Gaylon completed several positions with GTE, including manager and dial office administrator, then retiring after 32½ years. Throughout his career he made many close friends including his best friend H.W. Skip White. He and Adella were also involved in the Jaycees in Coeur d’Alene.

Gaylon LOVED the outdoors ... he loved horseback riding, hunting, fishing, camping and boating. His falls were filled with great hunting trips packing in the backcountry on his pack string of horses and mules, and his summers were filled with every fishing adventure imaginable. His passion for photography captured many of these adventures.

Gaylon had a brilliant mind. He could build, invent and fix ANYTHING!! He owned his own business where he designed and fabricated thousands of things. He was a master woodworker, welder and seamstress. Being self-taught, there wasn’t anything he couldn’t figure out. He thrived on challenges that came his way and was always working on a project of some kind.

The couple was blessed with their first daughter, Lori, born in January of 1960. Their second daughter, Donita, was born in May of 1967. He loved taking them on vacations, and traveled all over the country in their camper and blue International truck. He was supportive and involved in everything his girls did. Family holidays and traditions were a big part of who he was. Gaylon loved being a father-in-law and Grandpa to “his boys.” He loved sharing his passions and knowledge and watching them grow.

Gaylon leaves behind his wife of 65 years, Adella Johnson; his daughter, Lori Johnson of Spokane, Wash.; daughter, Donita (Johnson) Graves with husband, Brian Graves and grandsons, Cody and Ryan Graves of Post Falls, Idaho; his loyal golden retriever, Decker and so many dear, dear friends.

Gaylon was the most kind, caring and compassionate person who lived life to its fullest! He never met a stranger. He loved people and conversation. He truly cared about each person he met, and anyone who ever knew him, knows he was the BEST storyteller ever! He touched so many lives during his time here on earth. This incredible man, husband, father, grandpa, friend and storyteller will be missed deeply!

Heaven gained an incredible angel who will be missed so much by all of us here on earth.

There will be a funeral service held at 2 p.m. on Tuesday, April 3, 2018, at English Funeral Chapel, 1133 N. Fourth St., Coeur d’Alene, Idaho. The graveside service with Military Honors will be held at 2 p.m. on Wednesday, April 4, 2018, at Riverview Cemetery in Coeur d’Alene. Please visit Gaylon’s online memorial at www.englishfuneralchapel.com.