Lorraine Vivian Johansen
Lorraine Vivian Johansen passed away at her home in Sequim on February 19, 2011, at the age of 89. Lorraine was born November 24, 1921, in Hackensack, New Jersey, to Randolph W. and Minnie (Bachtold) Mai, but used her stepfather’s surname, Witt, from age 5.
She attended Tenafly High School in New Jersey and graduated from Blue Mountain College, Blue Mountain, Mississippi in 1943. Her adventurous spirit took her to Dhahran, Saudi Arabia, in 1947 to work for the Arabian American Oil Company (ARAMCO). There she met George S. Johansen from Seattle, Washington, and they were married in Manama, Bahrain Island, Persian Gulf, in 1948.
In 1975, after 28 years in the Middle East, George and Lorraine retired and initially lived in Victoria, British Columbia, before moving into their home on East Sequim Bay in 1978. They had purchased their home in 1963, through a sealed-bid auction after reading a notice in a Seattle newspaper. From 1983 to 1985, they returned to Saudi Arabia on a special assignment with the Saudi Bahraini Cement Company.
Lorraine’s passion for the natural world led her to form the Arabian Natural History Association and to be an avid collector of marine mollusks of the Persian Gulf. She was also an enthusiastic birder, specializing in birds of the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia.
Upon returning to the United States, Lorraine became actively involved in the Sequim Natural History Museum, the Strait Stamp Club, the Audubon Society, various bridge groups, and, most recently, her Memoirs group. Yet, as busy as her interests kept her, she always had time to support the many activities of her husband and six children.
Lorraine is survived by her children: Dagny Lord (daughter, Sequim); Jay Johansen (son, Englewood, Florida); Rise Ryan (daughter, Clark, Colorado); Dana Johansen (son, Alexandria, Virginia); Sidra LaBrie (daughter, Port Angeles); and Lohna O’Rourke (daughter, Sequim). Lorraine also leaves behind seven grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, George; sister, Beverly; and brother, Hank.
As loving wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, daughter, sister, and friend, Lorraine was so much to so many. Known by all for her generous nature, she will be sorely missed by those whose lives she touched.
At Lorraine’s request, there will be no formal service; however, a Celebration of Life will be held at the Fifth Avenue Retirement Center in Sequim, 500 West Hendrickson Road, on Wednesday, March 2, 2011, from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m.
Memorial contributions can be made to Volunteer Hospice of Clallam County, 540 East Eighth Street, Port Angeles, WA, 98362.