Obituary of Gordon Blair Johnson

Gordon Blair Johnson born March 14th, 1957 in Kimberley, B.C. passed away peacefully at the age of 65 at the East Kootenay Regional Hospital on December 19th, 2022 after a long battle with kidney disease and complications from diabetes within the past year.

Gord (240 Gordie) had a great love for the outdoors, spending most of his free time fishing, hunting, and camping on one of the many lakes in our area, Whiteswan being his favourite.

Him and Crystal spent many days by the fire at Burt Cross' cabin fishing until it was too dark. He could often be found on Kootenay lake driving the Cameronian, a fishing houseboat out of Kaslo shipyards for a weekend with the boys or a trip with his daughter where he would challenge you to a game of crib or take all your coins in 31.

There were fond memories of Gord on adventures with Mifi Volard and her two previous children, Danielle and Michelle Jolie with baby Crystal later on.
Skating the backyard, horseback riding, lake days, and relaxing at his favourite camping grounds, he instilled this love of nature upon all of them.

He loved to cook, as most Johnson's do.
While home, Gord loved to be in the kitchen with Ingrid and Crystal. Frequent batches of cabbage rolls, French bread, and pelmeni were made through the winter months and shared with friends. He believed that every meal was best enjoyed in the woods. There wasn't much that a batch of smoked trout from Whiteswan or getting out to burn a hotdog couldn't fix.

In his younger years he was a labourer in construction, heavy machinery, the pulp mill, and took up gold mining for old man Sims up Wild Horse on his claim by Fort Steele. Eventually he joined up with his long time friend David Marsters and headed to the Yukon with gold fever. Every year after he would make the trip towards Dawson City to work for TD Oilfields for the next twenty or so years. Quietly rubbing shoulders with the now popular guys on TV. He loved his work, and looked forward to going back every time.

Gord loved life, and often said, "You're a short time here and a long time dead!" He lived for the good times and loved his family deeply. Things won't be the same without him.

He is survived by his daughter Crystal, his brothers Jack, David, and his sisters Karen (Derrel Weir), Loree (Colombe), Elin-Marie (Tony Minchenko), Julie-Anne (Bruce Rota) and many nieces and nephews.
He is predeceased by his mother Ingrid Alice Johnson (Eriksson), father Harold, brothers Larry (Judy), Kenneth, and his wife Angelina (Muraca)

The family would like to thank the staff at EKRH for their hard work during Gord's long stay at the hospital.

In lieu of flowers donations could be made to the Canadian Kidney Foundation, or please consider registering as an organ donor at www.transplant.bc.ca