Obituary
view guestbook | sign guestbook

Doris L. Johnson

Date of Death: January 21, 2014

Date of Birth: April 1, 1929

Biography:

Capt. Doris L. Johnson

Doris L. Johnson died peacefully  at St. Joseph’s  Rehabilitation and Residence on January 21, 2014.. She was born in Methuen, MA , April 1, 1929, the daughter of G. Elmer Johnson and Marion (Jacoby) Johnson. She was a graduate of Deering High School and a Portland business school.

In her early years she worked for her father in a Lawrence, MA  auto dealership before retuning to Portland and becoming a self taught photographer. She worked as a videographer for WCSH-TV for 25 years.  At 50 years old she left the station and bought a boat to start a sailing school for women. She continued with her work on the water and earned a U.S. Coast Guard license as a U.S. Merchant Marine Officer to operate vessels of 50 Gross Tons. She became the boatswain of the lightship “Nantucket” when it was berthed in Portland. For many summers, in her senior years, she was a launch operator at Centerboard Yacht Club. She also owned several motorcycles in her life, and ventured as far as Washingotn, D.C on one of her trips. She also had one on board the “Nantucket”.

Doris was an amateur painter with water colors and acrylics. Her paintings are with her family and at the Deering pavilion.  She turned many of her paintings into Christmas cards. She was also a musician, her first instrument, after learning the piano, was the piano accordion.  Later she learned to play the guitar, the violin, the saxophone, the mandolin, and had a trombone. She entertained the folks at the Deering Pavillion where she was a resident for 19 years. She also made macramé items for the “Arts of the Sailor.”  As an animal lover,  she had many cats during her lifetime. She was a strong, independent, strong willed,  human being.

Doris was predeceased by her parents,  and her brother, Major David M. Johnson,   She is survived by her sister Ruth of Scarborough, her brother Douglas R. of Gorham, her sister-in-law Jacqueline of Cape Elizabeth, and several nieces  and nephews.

Memorial plans are not complete at this time.

In lieu of flowers please make a donation to the Maine State Society for the Protection of Animals, POB 10,  So. Windham, ME 04028