September 20, 1929 – February 21, 2023
Carol Fischer Johnson was born in Trail City on September 20, 1929, the 10th of 13 children of Joseph and Eva Lacher Fischer.
She lived in Yakima, WA where she worked numerous jobs, including in the kitchen at St. Elizabeth’s Hospital.
She met her lifelong love, George Johnson, whom she married on May 5, 1956. They moved their growing family to Sunnyside, WA in the summer of 1960. Carol was proud to call herself a homemaker. She made her house a place of welcome and warmth, a hub of joy and creativity and that neighborhood playground. That trait of hospitality continued throughout her life, as she opened her home to numerous people needing a temporary place to live. She loved to cook, bake and create. She found time to be a Studio Girl Cosmetic Consultant and to sell Cameo Art Paints. Carol never sat still. Even while working with her spouse to redesign, rebuild and landscape their home, she stayed active with her kids’ activities. She worked with an Ecumenical Youth Group, and St. Joseph’s CYO, and was a Cub Scout leader and Campfire leader for many years. She worked with the American Cancer Society, March of Dimes, Sunnyside Museum, Eagles, and the city and county elections. She worked actively in St. Joseph Parish as a catechist, youth minister, parish council member, eucharistic minister and parish historian. For many years she did a weekly communion service at both local nursing homes. She opened her own business, Creations by Carol, which she ran from her home. She started with cold ceramics and candles and moved into silk flower arranging. From there she grew her business into wedding and quincenera flowers and bouquets, wall hangings and table bouquets. She designed and created nativity figures. She cut thousands of squares for quilts and made many blankets for family, friends and sale. She crocheted baby clothes, booties, tablecloths, doilies, specialty items, and made hundreds of afghans.
Her Catholic faith was always important to her, but in 1974 Carol had an experience that created a fire in her heart that continued to grow and glow until the day she left us. These are her words: “Then, came 1974, a notice in the bulletin: “Do you want to know more about your faith?” Wow, I was ready. A blessed Abbot Gereats from Pecos came to Sunnyside and baptized us in the Holy Spirit. The same as was done in the Bible. My life has not been the same since. My precious Jesus came to visit me, told me He loved me, and the Holy Spirit blessed me with His gifts, just as happened to the Apostles.”
From that experience was born the prayer group that began to meet once a week to pray together and talk about Scripture. This group, which ranged from five to fifty, gathered for the next 45 years with Carol leading them in listening to God speaking and drawing them closer to his Son, Jesus. During this time Carol wrote a book called “God Speaks to Us” that compiled the words she had heard spoken to her. The book was printed in both English and Spanish.
Carol’s legacy lives on with her spouse, George; children NonaRae (Jim) Robinson, Michelle (Rolin) Heytvelt, Roxanne Johnson, Jeffrey (Lisa) Johnson, and Timothy (Don) Johnson; ten grandchildren, 20 great-grandchildren and two great-great-grandchildren; numerous nieces and nephews; and her brothers Al Fischer and Mike (Barb) Fischer. She was preceded in death by her parents, two sisters, eight brothers, a grandson and a great-granddaughter.
Funeral Mass was held March 4 at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Sunnyside.
(NonaRae Robinson’s address is 728 W Indian Rocks Street, Meridian, ID 83646)