LAS VEGAS, Nev.— C. L. (Lynn) Johnson passed away on Feb. 14, 2017 at the Sunrise Hospital in Las Vegas, Nev. He was born Aug. 22, 1941 to Wayne and Winnie Johnson in Monte Vista.
Lynn attended and graduated from the Monte Vista school system. While in school, he fed cows at a neighbor’s feedlot, drove a school bus route and worked as a ranchhand above Creede. Shortly after his 18th birthday, Lynn joined the United State Navy serving on Aircraft Carrier USS Bennington.
While stationed in San Diego, he met and married Bea Gain. After his discharge he began a career with National Cash Register (NCR). There he serviced banking computers and smaller business machines. During this time he lived in Reno, Nev. and Seattle, Wash. and finished his journey with NCR in the San Luis Valley.
In 1974, Lynn and family moved back to Monte Vista and he spent the rest of his working career as a Farm Bureau Insurance Agent. He enjoyed his time working with so many people in the Valley and was proud of his work with Farm Bureau. During his career with Farm Bureau, Lynn received many accolades, commending not only the quantity of product he sold, but his dedication to his clientele and friends.
He and his wife Bea, fulfilled one of Lynn’s dreams of running a small ranch south of Monte Vista, The Shadow K Ranch. As was his usual, Lynn quadrupled the hay production on the ranch and began implementing pasturing practices that were well ahead of their time. He worked diligently to improve the genetics of his herd of Angus and Angus mix cows as well.
Lynn loved to be outdoors and frequently would fish, hunt and ride snow machines. He enjoyed playing poker and as it turned out, was a winner at his usual weekly games just days before his passing.
Anyone who knew Lynn understood his amiable demeanor and his love of chatting over coffee with his friends, how he loved to tell a joke and his easy laugh. He was a gifted communicator and was able to remember names and personal details about those he met for even the briefest amount of time.
Along with Bea, they remodeled nearly every home they lived in. His skill with tools was a perfect match for Bea’s creativity.
He leaves the love of his life and wife Bea (Gagin) Johnson, three sons: Russ (Jolene) Johnson, Denver; Jeffrey Johnson, Delaware; Jay Johnson, Delaware; grandson, J.G. (Grant) Johnson, San Diego, Calif.; granddaughter, Kelsey Johnson, Wash.; and two sisters: Bonnie (Johnson) Denney and Edith (Edy) Johnson, Monte Vista.
He is preceded in death by his parents, all aunts and uncles, brother J.R. (Jim) Johnson and brother in law Donald G. Denney.
Lynn’s remains have been cremated and will be spread on the Pacific Ocean by the United States Navy.
Our plans and hopefully your plans to celebrate his life, will be to go fishing on the lakes and streams above Creede, we’ll be the ones laughing and finishing the day sipping some peppermint schnapps and bragging about who caught the biggest fish, the most, or even two on a single line – he’ll be there with us and you.