Francis E. Johnson

Born in Bloomingdale, New York, on June 17, 1934, he was the son of Charles and Ethel (Skiff) Johnson. Francis married Barbara Jones on Nov. 7, 1957 in St. Paul’s Church in Bloomingdale.

Francis was a lifelong resident of the Saranac Lake area. He attended and graduated from the Saranac Lake High School and North Country Community College with a degree in Business Administration. Francis had been employed as Director of Information Systems at the American Management Association for 39 years until his retirement in 1999. He was a member and Past Exalted ruler of the Saranac Lake Elks Lodge BPOE 1508, past vice president of New York Elks Association, past Elks District Chairman for business practice and new lodge development. He also was a member and is past President of the Saranac Lake Rotary Club, past District Treasurer of Rotary District #7040 and was named a Paul Harris Fellow by the Saranac Lake Rotary Club, which is the highest recognition given to a Rotarian. Francis served as a board member of the Maplewood Home Owners Association in Port Orange, Florida, and was a member and treasurer of Mended Hearts Association at CVPH in Plattsburgh. Francis was active in his parish at St. Bernard’s Church and had served there as an usher and fundraiser, was a past member and officer of St. Bernard’s School Board and Parent Teacher Association. He was an avid sports fan and especially loved watching baseball, softball, football and basketball.

Survivors include his wife Barbara; four children, Pamela Johnson of Saranac Lake, Polly Doty and husband Derek of Ray Brook, William Johnson of Lyndonville, Vermont, and Christopher Johnson of Old Forge, New York; four grandchildren, Briana and Alexandria Patnode, and Orrin and Chase Atwood; two great-grandsons, Liam Patnode Smith and Gannon Pelkey; one brother, Russell Johnson of Vermontville; two sisters, Aedele LaBrake of Malone and Phyllis King of Vermontville; and many nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his father, mother and two brothers Charles Johnson and Harold Paye.

Calling hours will take place at the Fortune-Keough Funeral Home on Sunday, Aug. 17 from 4 to 7 p.m. An Elks service will take place at 6:30 p.m. Sunday. A Mass of Christian Burial will take place at noon on Monday, Aug. 18 at St. Bernard’s Church. Following cremation, burial will take place at Union Cemetery in Vermontville.

Friends wishing to remember Francis E. Johnson may make memorial contributions to American Heart Assoc. in care of the funeral home. Family and friends can also share their memories and sign the online guestbook at fortunekeoughfuneralhome.com.