Argus Observer (Ontario, Malheur County, Oregon)
Thursday, August 13, 2009
Virgil Johnson
Sept. 23, 1921 - July 28, 2009
New Plymouth
Virgil Johnson, 87, of New Plymouth, passed away Tuesday, July 28, 2009, at Ontario, Ore. Memorial services will be at 2 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 15, 2009, at the First Baptist Church, New Plymouth. Services and arrangements are under the direction of Shaffer-Jensen Memory Chapel, New Plymouth. Condolences may be made to the family at www.shaffer-jensenchapel.com.
Virgil was born in Payette, Sept. 23, 1921, to Charles W. and Grace (Christensen) Johnson. He lived his entire life on the ranch at Big Willow. He went to school at Barker School for two years, then to New Plymouth until his senior year. He graduated from Payette High School in 1939.
In 1942, he moved to Burney, Calif., where he worked in a tire shop. In 1943, he went to San Francisco, Calif., where he was employed at Greyhound. He married Anita Morrison on Feb. 12, 1949, in Lincoln, Calif. Virgil transferred to Boise, Idaho, Greyhound from Sacramento in April 1949. Early in 1950, they bought a ranch between Sweet and Ola. In 1951, they found themselves back at the Johnson ranch where he helped his father and continued to work the next two years part time for Greyhound. He was able to return to the hunting and fishing he loved, started to raise Angus cattle, rode horses and helped neighbors with cattle branding and other ranch jobs often.
Virgil belonged to American Angus Association, Idaho Cattlemen’s Association, Payette River Irrigation Company, endowment member of National Rifle Association, Ontario and Caldwell Gun Clubs and Payette Valley Co-op. He coached Little League and Babe Ruth baseball, also playing baseball for city teams.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Charley and Grace Johnson; his brother, Walter Johnson; his sister, Lois, and brother-in-law, Everett Smith; his son, Walter L. Johnson; his in-laws, Alton and Francis Morrison; and nephew, David Morrison.
Virgil is survived by his wife of 60 years, Anita Johnson, of New Plymouth; daughter-in-law, Laura Johnson, of New Plymouth; granddaughter, Julie Johnson, and great grandson, Kofi Williams, of Boise; grandson, Jess (Jennifer) Johnson, and sons, Travers and Mick, of New Plymouth; brother and sister-in-law, W.J. "Bill" and Betty Morrison, of Etna, Calif.; nephews, Dan W. (Joyce) Smith, of Donnelly/McCall, Idaho, Greg Smith, of Maryland, Jim (Pat) Morrison, Tom (Deanna) Morrison, of Yreka, Calif.; nieces, Dessa Smith, of Donnelly/McCall, Idaho, Kimberly (Darren) Clark, of Kuna, Idaho; cousins, Calvin Christensen, of Ontario, John L. Christensen, of Alaska, Ann Curtis, of Payette, and Mary Skippen, of Sweet; three great-nephews; and five great-nieces.
Memorial donations may be directed to New Plymouth First Baptist Church, NRA, Olympic Shooting Team or a charity of one’s choice, c/o Shaffer-Jensen Memory Chapel, P.O. Box 730, Payette, ID 83661.
