Frank Hayes Johnson passed away Tuesday, February 18, 2025 in Spokane, Washington. He was born in Ontario, Oregon, July 10, 1928, to Morrison Hayes and Katherine (Bannerman McKay) Johnson. Following him in birth were his brother Edward Bannerman (Skitter) Johnson and sister Jean Evelyn Russ.

He recalled with pride his mother's graduation at the top of her class with a Bachelor's in Nursing from Marquette University in 1915. His father was a "powder monkey" who set explosives in the construction of the massive public works of the depression era, including Hoover Dam. As such, Frank's early years saw his family traverse the country from Idaho to West Virginia. One of those stops as a young boy was Chicago, where he began his near lifetime of suffering as an avid Cubs fan. After graduating from high school in Oakland, California, the family moved to Spokane in 1945 where Frank remained for the rest of his life.

Frank enrolled in Gonzaga University in 1945 and by 1951 had finished his undergraduate studies and obtained his Law Degree. As a freshman, he played varsity basketball for the Bulldogs where he honed his deadly underhand shooting technique, employed decades later to defeat his grandkids in free throw shooting contests. Upon graduation, he was drafted into the Army at the onset of the Korean War and served as a First Lieutenant Judicial Advocate General (legal officer) primarily at Fort Lewis, Washington. His love for Gonzaga was lifelong, once teaching a semester of business law at Gonzaga in Florence. He reluctantly gave up his basketball tickets last fall after more than 65 years of regular attendance.

During his years at Gonzaga, he met and fell in love with a local girl named Maureen Ellen Curran. They married in August 1952 and celebrated sixty-four years of marriage before she passed away in 2016. Their legacy lives on through their children: Kathleen Johnson Hart (Raymond Hart); Jean Johnson (Peter Miller); Stephen Johnson (Melissa Manix); Maryellen Johnson (Huw Davis); and Patricia Johnson, deceased. Frank and Maureen have been blessed with ten grandchildren and five great grandchildren: Curran (Ashley Keever, Liliana Keever, Colin Hart), Elizabeth (Robert Schiotis, Frances Schiotis), and Russell Hart; Ellen (Quentin Vasdeboncoeur, Penelope and Eloise

Miller-Vasdeboncoeur), Anna, and Claire Miller; Aran and Kellen Johnson; and Evelyn and Peter Davis.

Frank joined the Spokane County Prosecuting Attorney's Office in 1956, rising to Chief Criminal Deputy for the last three years of service. In 1962 he formed his own civil trial practice with fellow Deputy Don Olson and later rose to senior partner at the MacGillivray, Jones Law firm. Upon retirement in 1990, he adjudicated small cases in Federal Court as an appointed Special Master. During his career, Frank served as President of the Spokane County Bar Association and as a Governor of the Washington State Bar Association from the 5th District.

Frank was a lifelong learner who read history and politics voraciously. His intellect and curiosity led him to explore the world with Maureen and pursue many hobbies on his own. Among other pursuits, he refereed high school football, sang in his church choir,

collected wine and classical music, and studied Shakespeare. A generation of Spokane high school athletes possess photos of their performances thanks to his brief dalliance with photography.

His love for cooking, especially bread baking, was the mindful practice he held until his last days. He mixed, kneaded, baked, and cooled loaves of bread weekly for fifty years, gifting half to friends, acquaintances, and an occasional stranger. Even as he left his apartment for the last time, his flour, scale, mixing bowl, oven mitts, cooling racks and apron sat waiting on his kitchen counter, within reach of a deck of cards, his cribbage board, and many forms of chocolate.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations in his honor to Catholic Charities Eastern Washington, Second Harvest Inland Northwest, or Thrive International.