Marguerite "Marge" Louise Johnston Baker

Marge was the oldest child born to Wiley O. and Jennie A. (Ramshak) Beaver on November 20, 1919 in Enumclaw, Washington. After graduating from Enumclaw High School in 1937, Marge moved to Portland, Oregon, to work as a waitress. After a couple of years, she moved to Seattle. When WWII started, Marge went to work for Boeing where she installed the pilot and copilot seats in the B-17 bombers (a real ‘Rosie-the-Riveter’). In 1945, she married Ernest H. Johnston, and moved to Olympia, Washington in 1948 with their young son, Gary. In the late 1950s, Marge decided being a homemaker was not enough; she got a job as secretary, then administrative assistant for Sears, Roebuck & Co. at the downtown Olympia store. In 1966, Sears opened their new store in Lacey at South Sound Center and Marge was promoted to Personnel Manager; unfortunately, she also became a widow about the same time. Later, in 1971, Marge married Walter Baker and moved to Salem, Oregon. That marriage ended in divorce, but Marge chose to remain in the Salem area because of the many good friends she had found there. Marge was an avid golfer, bowler, and fast walker with these good friends up into her mid-80s until her eyesight started to diminish, and she had to cut her daily walks with pal Joyce down to ONLY three miles per day! She also loved going on trips with pals Mary and Aaron, especially staying at Depoe Bay. (Oh, and Fiji Islands was pretty fun, too.) Marge also talked about the many fun times she had with her friend Wanda, like going thru the Panama Canal. Marge moved back to Olympia in 2012 at age 92. Unfortunately in March of this year, she went totally blind, and her mental and physical condition rapidly diminished. Many thanks to the care providers Martha, Kim, and especially Angelina when Marge was at Colonial Inn, and later Colleen, John, David, and the other comfort care providers at Panorama. Marge passed away May 31, 2017 in Lacey, Washington, at 97 years old. Preceding her in death were her parents; husband, Ernest; brothers, Dolphin Beaver and Eldon Beaver; sister, Luella Wimmer; daughter-in-law, Cassandra Johnston; and granddaughter, Suzanne Johnston. Survivors include son, Gary Johnston; sisters, Dorothy Savina and Shirley Rollins; grandson, Bryon Johnston; nine great grandchildren; two (almost three) great-great grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews. Please leave memories of Marge or condolences for the family in the Guestbook below.