Merlin H. Johnson
November 4, 1922 - August 16, 2004
Obituary
Merlin H. Johnson, MD
Merlin was born November 4, 1922 in Manchester, IA; died August 16, 2004 in Seattle, WA at the age of 81 years. Merlin served as Chief of Psychiatry at the Seattle VA Hospital for 40 years, and Professor of Psychiatry at U.W. retiring in 1995. He served as a representative of the American Psychiatric Association, receiving numerous awards and honors during his career. Merlin is survived by his sons, Drs. Bruce and Kirk Johnson, daughter Carol Crilly, brothers Duane, and Elvin Johnson, special cousin Winifred Pillard, and 7 grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his wife Janet Johnson in 1994. Visitation Friday 3:00 – 8:00 PM with Commemorative Service Saturday, August 21, 2004 at 3:00 PM all at BONNEY-WATSON Washington Memorial, 16445 International Blvd. SeaTac 206 242-1787. Remembrances to Ripley Lectureship, Holmes Research Fund, or the Merlin Johnson Leadership Award Fund, all of the U.W. Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, P.O. Box 356560, Seattle, WA 98195.
I remember Dr. Johnson as the Chief of Psychiatry. He would make an annual visit during the holidays to our program bringing a traditional can of Almond Roca. He was always personable and supportive to us line workers. I remember his fondly.
My prayers are with you.
Our sympathy to Merlin’s family.
We enjoyed Merlin’s sense of humor and respected his long commitment to teaching and treatment in psychiatry.
Robert Wright M.D.
Anne Wright
I will always remember Merlin for his great sense of humor and his ability to take the long view when things seemed ridiculous or even sometimes impossible. He was a gentleman and a scholar, a quiet mentor, and a caring physician. My thoughts are with his family at this difficult time. I hope that happy memories of his gentleness, his smile, and his enduring love for Janet and all his family will comfort you.
I would like to thank everyone for their expressed thoughts and condolences. Please sign and/or leave memories and regards in this online memorial guestbook. Now that I’ve seen responses, I really appreciate this book and it means alot. Dad was a beginner internet surfer, he probably wouldn’t figure on a source of tribute such as this,though he often figured everything else. Dad passed away peacefully in his sleep. He often said if people were given the choice, that would be the way to go.
Thanks to everyone,
his daughter Carol
My condolences and blessing to the family.
Much fondness for a great teacher and long time friend.
Merlin was very supportive to me in my role as a psychologist at the VA Medical Center. The one trait I always admired in Merlin was that decisions he made were always made with the best interest of the patients in mind.
I was honored when I was asked by the Chief of Staff to become Dr. Johnson’s physician 5 years ago, in the Internal Medicine clinic at the VA. Throughout all the difficulties of those years, Dr. Johnson maintained grace, his sense of humor, and perspective. It was a pleasure working together, and he always helped me as much as I helped him. I will miss our visits very much.