James Morris Johnson, known as “Morris”
May 19, 1936 - May 9, 2025

It is with heavy hearts that we announce the passing of Morris. He passed peacefully with his loving wife by his side. They recently celebrated their 69th wedding anniversary.

Morris was born on May 19, 1936 in Bemidji, Minnesota. He was the second of six children. The family moved to California when he was a small boy in search of work — first to Pondosa, then to Eureka, where he had newspaper routes to help with the support of his family and was in the paper for his work ethics as a young boy. When he was a young teenager he began working for Doug Rex at Rex’s Redwood Gifts on Broadway. He saved up money to buy a table saw that blossomed into a lifetime of creative and thoughtful woodwork his entire life, and even created the infamous Hot Dog Sticks that were sold at the Trees of Mystery gift shop, amongst many other family favorites such as redwood planters and piggy banks.

He loved the outdoors and enjoyed hunting, fishing, clamming and camping. When he was a young boy he bought a little boat and had it at the bay for his adventures. He often told the story of sneaking into the neighbor’s crop and rolling watermelons down to the creek and floating them down so they could sneak them. Watermelon is his favorite.

Morris loved to tell jokes and stories and sometimes you could fall victim to a little prank. He also loved to roller skate, walk on stilts and dance, and he was very good. He always had his radio tuned to country music and was always singing. Through friends he met the love of his life, Gwendene Barnett. They married in April of 1957. The following year their oldest daughter Tani Marie was born, followed by Charlene Sarah, Deborah Lynn and then Rita Ann.

He worked at Arcata Plywood Mill until they closed, then was transferred to Durable Plywood until they closed, then went on to work at Fortuna Veneer. Morris worked over 20 years in the local plywood industry before early retirement.

Ours was a wonderful life of camping, hunting (I, Rita was a week old in Hunting Camp and enjoyed many birthdays there), fishing, and bonfires on the beach. Bailey Canyon was a favorite campground on Ruth Lake where we learned to water ski. Dad would fish and then take us out on the lake for a day of skiing and swimming. Also camping/fishing both Stone and Freshwater Lagoon, then later dad and mom made a nice little cabin that was enjoyed year round. Later in life, Morris and Gwen were gifted a trip to Maui that sparked a new creative bug in him that lead to the many statues that are enjoyed by so many today, even landing him another spot in the Times-Standard, a listing in 101 Things To Do In Humboldt, and many stop from PokeMon Go-ers!

He was preceded in death by his parents Ida and Leon Smith (he was born a Johnson but considered his step-father his Dad), his brothers Leon, Burton, and Kenneth, his son-in-law David, and great-granddaughter Emily. Shortly following Morris’ passing, our family suffered another tragedy of the death of his great-great-grandson Hunter James. But we take great comfort in knowing Hunter has the most unconditionally-loving Grandpa he could ever have holding him.

Morris is survived by his wife of over 69 years, Gwendene, daughters Tani, Charlene (Greg), Debbie (Richard), Rita (Doug), 10 grand-children and 33 great-grandchildren and 1 great-great-grandchild (hold our Hunter tight Grandpa, we know you are!).

Special thanks to the staff at Hospice of Humboldt for their dedication and care, and Ayers Family Cremation whose staff is very kind and thoughtful.

Family and friends are gathering to share stories and memories with root beer floats July 19th.

“Do not stand at my grave and weep,
I am not there, I do not sleep,
I am a thousand winds that blow,
I am the diamond glints on snow.
I am the sunlight on ripened grain,
I am the gentle Autumn’s rain.
When you awaken in the morning’s hush,
I am the swift uplifting rush,
Of quiet birds in circled flight,
I am the soft stars that shine at night.
Do not stand at my grave and cry,
I am not there, I did not die.”

~Robert Hepburn

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