CHARLOTTE PEARL (NORTHERN, SPANE) JOHNSON
AUGUsT 28, 1929 – APRIL 8, 2010
Charlotte “Charlie” was born August 28, 1929 in Hood River, Oregon, to Charles and Pearl Northern. She died April 8, 2010.
When she was young, the family moved to Seattle where Charlotte graduated from Queen Anne High School in 1948.
Soon after she met and married Victor L. Spane and they made their home in Stanwood.
Together they raised a family of five children: Skip (Barb) Spane, Vicky Spane, Becky Chandler, Beth (Gordie) Beck, and Marc (Catherine) Spane.
Her family grew to include seven grandchildren: Rachael (Norm) Vaniski, Corie (Mike) Gudgeon, Ben Beck, Abbie (Jake) Gehrman, Christi Spane, Peregrine and Devin Spane, and six greatgrandchildren: Jaden Beck, Chloe and Gavin Gehrman, Bjorn and Reidar Gudgeon and Lerin Vaniski.
Her marriage to Ken “Mush” Martin had the family moving to Tillamook, Oregon, where they owned and operated their own business.
It was there where she met and eventually married Mr. Emory “Shorty” Johnson.
After retirement Mom and Shorty teamed up with her sister and brother in-law Jackie and Maury as snowbirds, pulling their fifthwheeler to Yuma, Ariz., each year to enjoy the sun. They loved Yuma and the sun so much that we fondly referred to them as “our little Arizona raisins” on their return back north each year.
Mom is survived by her sister Jackie Hanson and brothers Howard and Roy Northern as well as many, many nieces and nephews.
She was a wonderful housewife and mother. She loved to dress her girls up for Easter which included making their dresses, and curling their hair in rag curls. Rag curls became the signature style for “her” girls.
Some say her real gift was painting portraits. Though she only did a few, her most endearing was the one of her five children, which to this day hangs proudly.
Charlotte loved family gatherings and the music played by the family and extended family and friends. She was proud of her 30-plus years of sobriety.
Mom loved life and lived it to the fullest.
She will be missed by family and the many friends she met along the way.
Her journey was not always easy but it was always worth it.
The family would like to thank the following people for all of their support and loving care for our mother: Doctor CJ Kuan, his assistants Tish and Wendy and his entire office; Providence Regional Medical Center doctors, nurses, aids and staff; Providence Hospice Care, Puget Sound Kidney Center at Smokey Point and Josephine care facility.
A memorial service starts 1 p.m. Thursday, April 29 at Our Saviour’s Lutheran Church, 27201 99th Ave. NW, Stanwood.
