ROBERTA JANET JOHNSON
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Roberta Janet Johnson was born on July 27th, 1937 to Clarence and Dorothy Johnson, in Providence, Rhode Island. She had four brothers, Samuel, Edward, Gerald (who died in infancy), and Robert her twin.
Roberta married Charles Vissman on July l2th, 1958, in Rhode Island. They had three children, Rebecca, Charles Jr., and Jamison.

Roberta married her second husband, Eugene Powell, in Louisville, Kentucky in January 1965. They had one son, Forrest.

After her second marriage ended in 1966, Roberta moved to Ajo, Arizona where she met and later married Kyle L. Fouts in 1967. Kyle adopted Forrest whose name was legally changed to Kyle W. Fouts.

Roberta relocated to the Yale valley area in 1970, where she and her family remained for nearly two and half decades. Her husband Kyle passed away in 1988, however Roberta remained at their Yale home for many more years.

Roberta met David Johnson, they were married on September 13th, 1995 at Mt. Angel in Oregon. Roberta lived with David in Amboy until the time of her passing.

Roberta was born during the great depression, just a few years before the United States entered into World War II. These difficult and trying times instilled her with strength, independence and a wonderful and unique sense of humor.

Roberta began working at a young age and worked in various fields over the years. While living in Kentucky, she enjoyed a challenging position working for NASA where she
performed fabrication on components of the suits worn by early pilots involved in the space program. Upon relocating to Washington, Roberta worked at various locations
including Lamiglass in Woodland- and at the Chelatchie mill where she was the supervisor of the security officers when the mill was closing. She later worked for the State of Washington at the fish hatcheries located near the reservoirs in the valley.

Roberta finally retired in June I999 and began pursuing many Hobbies, with a heavy focus on genealogy and tracing her family tree. This research included ancestry that
carried back to the Cherokee Nation of Native Americans, Sweden, and the highlands of Scotland.

Roberta enjoyed an outgoing lifestyle; over the years this included dancing, fishing, camping, and social clubs in and around the Vancouver area. In her travels, Roberta could be found at the Pacific coast, at Native American encampments, social activities about the northwest, or assisting various friends or family as opportunities presented themselves.

Roberta also enjoyed the holidays and could either be found at home in Amboy with David and his children, Monty, Claudette and Jennifer along with their grandchildren.

She would also travel to Arizona to visit Kyle, Karen and her beloved granddaughter, Deidre.

Roberta was a member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, The Amboy Mt. Valley Grange #79, North Clark Historical Museum, TOPS, and St Joseph Catholic Church of Yacolt.

Through Roberta's work with her family tree, she was also a member of the Blue Clan of the Cherokee Nation and Clan MacLean of Duart, of the Western Isles of Scotland.

Despite all of her accomplishments, Roberta will be most remembered not as a wife or mother, but as a reliable, dependable, and caring friend to numerous individuals about the southwest Washington area. Roberta had a passion for meeting people and with her radiant personality, she made friends no matter where she was or the circumstances she was involved in.

A person that could turn the bluest day bright with her laugh and flair for entertainment and humor, Roberta lived by her own definition of friendship, which we share here for
those who are gathered to celebrate her life, and reflect on their memories of her.

" Friendship is the inexpressible comfort of feeling safe with a person(s), having neither to weigh thoughts, nor measure words"

For those of us who are privileged enough to call her wife, mother, or friend we gather now to remember her life, and how she touched us. With our tears, we grieve not at her
passing, for we know she stands in the glory of God, but still we mourn the void left in our hearts from the loss of such a Grand Lady, who touched all that she knew in a positive light, and always seemed to have an extra moment to give for someone in need.

As Roberta loved poetry, we have included this passage as verses that she may have provided someone who was grieving at the loss of a loved one, in an effort to ease the pain that so frequently is found in the shadow of death.

"Don't grieve for me, for now I am free
I'm following the path God laid for me
I took His hand when I heard Him call
I turned my back and left it all
I could not stay here another day
To laugh, to love, to work, or play
Tasks left undone must stay that way
I found that peace at the close of day
If my parting has left behind a void
Then fill it with remembered joy
A friendship shared, a laugh, a kiss
As yes, these things I too will miss
Be not burdened with times of sorrow
I wish you the sunshine of tomorrow
My 1ife's been full, I've savored much
Good friends, good times, a loved one's touch
Perhaps my time seemed all too brief
Don't lengthen it now with undue grief
Lift up your hearts and share with me
God wanted me now, He's set me free"

Author unknown

Roberta, we will miss your smile, your humor, your courage in the face of adversity, and your dedication to those who you placed into your charge. This world will forever be a
better place for having you, as will those who were able to know you.

This heartfelt tribute was written by Roberta's son Kyle Wesley Fouts.

It was presented at her memorial service that was held in Amboy Washington. The service was followed by a pot-luck get together. After the meal family and close friends traveled to Yale Cemetery where Roberta's cremains were buried along side of her mother Dorothy, her twin brother Robert, and her beloved husband Kyle.
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And- Her hair always "looked Special"...