Patricia R. Johnson October 13, 2026

We are sad to announce the passing of our mom, grandma, and wife Patricia R. Johnson, 83, on September 19, 2022 due to multiple health issues. She was born on December 17, 1938 to James Reid and Hazel Anshutz. Pat, which is what she liked to be called, grew up on 800 North and State street in Orem, Utah and graduated from Orem High School in 1957.

Pat was that type of person that wanted to find “the one”.  Love was important to her and she tried to find love and when she did, she found Karl Johnson. Karl and Pat were married on May 27, 1973.  They have a combined family of 8 children. She is survived by husband Karl, children; Kathy O’Dell, Rick Coates, Shan Drew, Heather (Damon) Dykstra, PattiJo (Boedee) Hopes, step-children Karla (Johnson) Martin, and Joseph Johnson. She is preceded in death by her grandparents, parents, her siblings and her step son, Eric. Now that Mom has moved on from this life, she will be greeted in heaven with the loving arms of all her family members.

During her childhood and teenage years, she worked at Cherry Farms to make money to buy school clothes. To pass the time she would sit on her front porch and watch the cars go by.  We think this is where her love for cars came in because she always had the nicest vehicles.  She would even bring home new vehicles without telling Karl. They were constantly antagonizing each other and it worked for them (sorry mom, we had to say it). They wouldn’t show their affection in front of us kids, but we knew behind the scenes they cared for each other. Even to her last days, Karl would tell her he missed her, to get better fast, and to come home so she could hound him.

As an adult, Mom worked at Barbizon Factory where she learned and honed in on her sewing skills. She could figure out how to sew anything she put her mind to. In fact, she even sewed clothes for her kids as they were growing up and made amazing halloween costumes. If any of us needed our clothing fixed, she would fix it or she would show us how.

Mom made it a point to support all her kids, grandkids, cousins, and other family members. She loved watching her grandkids grow up. She supported everything they were involved in such as dance recitals, graduations, sporting events, you name it, she was there.

Mom loved to travel with her family. She taught her children a love and knowledge for exploration. She made countless trips to California to see family, Disneyland with children, grandchildren, and eventually great grandchildren. She went on trips with her sister and partner in crime Janet (Aunt Janet) across the country.  She had even traveled the world in support of PattiJo and her dancing to Japan, Canada, and Spain.

It’s hard to fathom the loss of such a hard working, loving, charismatic, fierce and at times, a stubborn woman. Mom always looked for love throughout her own life. This made it easy for her to show the ones around her such an outpouring of care, love and devotion to her siblings, to her children, grandchildren, great grandchildren, and friends.

Graveside services will be held at 11:00am on Friday, September 23, 2022, at the Salem Cemetery, 130 East 965 South, Salem, UT 84653.  A viewing for the family and friends will be held from 9:30am to 10:30am prior to services at the Walker Funeral Home, 187 S Main St. Spanish Fork, UT. 84660. Condolences can be shared here at www.walkermemorials.com