Violet Eileen (Kanipe) Crowder Johnson

Violet “Vi” E. Crowder Johnson

April 13, 1928 – January 1, 2021

A funeral service to celebrate the life of Violet Crowder Johnson, 92, of Coos Bay, will be held on Monday, January 11th at 10:00 a.m. at the North Bend Chapel, 2014 McPherson Avenue, with Pastor Bryan Johnston of the North Bend Church of Christ presiding. A graveside committal will follow at Sunset Memorial Park Cemetery in Coos Bay.

Vi was born on April 13, 1928 in Los Angeles, California to Millard Kanipe and Irene ( Willis ) Kanipe. She passed away peacefully on January 1, 2021 at Life Care Center in Coos Bay.

Vi loved living near the ocean and would go there as often as she could. When she moved to Oregon in 1950 it did not take her long to discover Loon Lake, where she and her family would spend their summers with family and friends. Vi worked at Northup’s Confectionery and Weyerhaeuser Company. In 1968 she went to work for North Bend Medical Center as their switchboard operator where she worked for 30 years until her retirement in 1998.

Vi was known for her sense of humor, infectious smile and unwavering kindness. She made her own clothes, knitted blankets and baby sweaters. She loved watching all of the old westerns and when she began losing her sight in 2011 she would have the TV on listening to them. She said that even though she could no longer see them, she could see them in her mind. Vi lived life to the fullest and loved her family dearly.

Vi is survived by her sister, Mildred Romano; son, Ron Crowder and his Fiance’ Joanne; daughters Eileen Knight and husband Richard and Janet Hilliard and husband Bob; stepchildren, Jim Crowder and wife Rosie, Donald Crowder and wife Deanna, Ralph Crowder, Beverly Morse and husband Gary, Geri Crowder, Randy Johnson and wife Cindy, Tammy Andrews, and Karen Franklin and husband Bill; 24 grandchildren; 39 great-grandchildren; 4 great-great grandchildren; 3 nieces and 3 nephews.

Vi was preceded in death by her parents, Millard and Irene Kanipe;  husbands, Raymond Crowder and Jim Johnson; brother, Kenneth Kanipe; stepson, Thomas E. Crowder and stepdaughters, Melba Hammer and Jayne Johnson.

Friends and family are encouraged to sign the online guestbook at www.coosbayareafunerals.com and www.theworldlink.com. Arrangements are under the care of North Bend Chapel, 541-756-0440.

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