James "Jim" Albert Johnston, Mr.

James (Jim) Albert Johnston was born to the late Mabel and Albert Johnston on July 15, 1936 in Webb City, Missouri.  Jim was the sixth child of six that Mabel and Albert had together.  His brother was 19 years older than Jim.  Jim also had four sisters.

Jim departed this earthly life on December 19, 2024 in Clackamas, Oregon.  He was 88 years old.  He was preceded by his siblings.

Jim lived in Web City until the age of seven with his mother and father.  At this time the family left Missouri to head for Oregon - his father in search of more work.  Albert was a sheet metal worker.  It is not clear but it may have been that Albert’s oldest some Raymond was already living in Oregon.  Raymond was also a sheet metal worker.

On the way to Oregon the family lived for a while in Colorado Springs, Albert needing to earn money to continue the journey.  The family settled in Salem, Oregon, where Albert started a sheet metal shop.  The family lived above the shop during this time. 

In 1949, at age 55, Jim’s father Albert sustained a severe heart attack and was quite ill afterward and unable to maintain his work as a sheet metal worker.  Jim was 13 years old.  It may have been around this time that Jim and his parents moved to the Sellwood neighborhood of Portland, Oregon.

Albert passed away in 1952, age 58.  Jim was 16. Jim and his mother moved in with Jim’s sister Marion and her husband Norman on SE Otty Road in Portland. Norman was also a sheet metal worker.

Jim attended Milwaukie High School in Milwaukie, Oregon.  While he was in high school, Jim’s mother Mabel worked as a live-in housekeeper Monday - Friday for a wealthy widow who lived in Milwaukie.  So, apparently, while Jim was attending school during the week, his mother was working not far away.

Jim got his start as a sheet metal worker during summer break after his junior year of high school, when his brother-in-law Norman got him a job at his employer, American Sheet Metal in Milwaukie.  This was hard work.  Jim told stories of “bucking rivets” that summer, where he was inside a large sheet metal duct holding a metal support while the journeyman pounded steel rivets flat to join the seams together.  No hearing protection was provided in those days.

Jim graduated high school in 1955, whereupon he began his career as a sheet metal worker apprentice in Union Local 16.  It was at time that Jim and his mother moved into an apartment at 82nd and King Road.

In February 1957, Jim’s friend Gary set him up on a blind date with a friend of Gary’s girlfriend.  The girls had attended Cleveland High School in Portland.  The friend’s name was Judy.  Jim and Judy began to date soon after, and got engaged in July 1957.  Judy’s parents wanted a six-month engagement, but Jim said no and Judy went along with him.  They were married on November 27th, 1957.

Daughter Jeanie (named after Jim’s sister Jeanie) was born November 6th, 1958.  Son David was born April 15th, 1961.

Jim completed his sheet metal apprenticeship in 1959 and obtained his Journeyman sheet metal worker designation.

Jim was working at a sheet metal/ sign shop in 1968 where a man named Fritz Waudby also worked.  This man was a Christian.  It was at this time that, through his friendship with Fritz, the Lord began to speak to Jim.  Fritz had joy and was happy.  Jim had a dream that he was speeding down the street at 100 mph, in danger and out of control.  The next day he said to Fritz, “I don’t know what you have, but I want it.”

Jim began to attend Tabernacle of Hope Church on 65th and Foster in Portland.  Jim invited Judy but she declined.  As Jim continued to attend and was making changes in his life, Judy began to wonder what was going on there.  Upon asking him about it, he said, “I’m not going to tell you; you’ll have to see for yourself.”  This tactic worked; Judy became more curious.  By January 1969 Jim brought his family to Tabernacle of Hope church.

Jim received the baptism of the Holy Ghost in January 1970.  His family also received the baptism within a year.  The Holy Ghost baptism changed Jim for the rest of his alive.  He became alive to the spirit of God and the things of God.

Jim loved the spirit of God as the Lord worked within him.  He would often become “beside himself” in the enjoyment of the Holy Ghost. Sometimes while worshipping the Lord, he spun around, fell down, crashed into things, and once broke a piano bench. Once, he knocked Fritz down, fell on top of him and his guitar and broke his glasses.  While lying there, Fritz gently said to Jim, “Brother Jim, this isn’t really necessary.”

Jim threw himself into the life the Lord revealed to him.  His hopes, dreams and goals centered around his relationship with the Lord and God’s children, whom he considered his brothers and sisters.  He strove to advance the work of the Lord on earth and in the hearts of people.  Even as his health worsened, his goal remained to please the Lord as the Spirit and the Word revealed the will of God to him.

Towards the end of his life on this earth, he stated many times, “you can’t have any ought against anyone in your heart; the Lord won’t allow it.”  He said he did not have any ought toward anyone, and felt ready to meet Jesus.

We celebrate the life that Jim obtained through his faith in the Lord and our Father.

James Albert Johnston is survived by his wife Judy, daughter Jeanie, son David, grandson Alan, son-in-law Eric, and daughter-in-law Jenny.

Jim’s favorite comedic statements:

If you don’t straighten out, I’ll knock you for a flying roll of ashcans.

Why don’t you take a flying leap and a rolling donut.

It’s better than a poke in the eye with a sharp stick.

Don’t get smart, just stay like you are.

You’re just all right.