Gladys JOHNSON Obituary

November 28, 1930 - October 21, 2023

With her loving family beside her, Gladys Estelle Johnson left this world on October 21, 2023. She was born in Yakima, Washington on November 28, 1930 to Archie and Wynona Trimble. She had two older brothers, Jack and William (Billy) Trimble. Gladys attended Wide Hollow Elementary and Highland High where she and her cousins were cheerleaders. She married her high school sweetheart, Gerald R. Johnson in 1949. Together they have five daughters, Renee, Sherry, Deanna, Jennifer, and Cheryl. Gladys was first and foremost a wife, mother and homemaker. She enjoyed cooking and was a great cook. She took great pleasure in caring for and decorating her home. Gladys always put home and family first. The Johnsons moved from Yakima to Ephrata, Issaquah and Ahtanum before settling in Spokane. Gladys was working as a meat wrapper when she and Jerry started their water well drilling business, J&J Drilling. Their hard work made J&J a great success. Gladys and Jerry were married 74 years. They shared many hobbies including travel, boating, camping, fishing, and raising and riding quarter horses on their ranch. When on her own, Gladys loved to shop. On football Sundays, she would fix Jerry snacks then head to the mall for some relaxed wandering. It was her great regret when she could no longer drive and had to watch the Seahawks play rather than shop Macy's. Gladys was preceded in death by her parents, her brothers and her eldest daughter Renee. She is survived by her husband Gerald, her daughters Cheryl, Jennifer, Deanna and Sherry, nine grandchildren and 8 great-grandchildren. There will be a celebration of life honoring Gladys on Saturday, November 4, 12-3pm, at the Fairfield Inn Spokane Valley. We will miss our beautiful mother forever and hold you close in our hearts and memories until we meet again.