Cover photo for Lorrie (Lorna) M. Johnson's Obituary
Lorrie (Lorna) M. Johnson Profile Photo
1940 Lorrie (Lorna) M. Johnson 2024

Lorrie (Lorna) M. Johnson

October 7, 1940 — September 19, 2024

Edgewater, Maryland

Lorrie M. Johnson, 83, of Edgewater, MD, passed away September 19, 2024. She is survived by her daughter Kim Killion (Allen) and son George Schillinger (Tracie); grandchildren, Heather Edwards (Kyle), Sean Killion (Kirsten), Ryan Killion (Callia), Brett Schillinger, and Jayme LaMountain (Arin); great-grandchildren Heidi Edwards, Nash Edwards, Preston LaMountain, and Stella LaMountain.

Lorrie’s youth in Wenatchee, WA was wonderful alongside her two half-brothers David and Lance (deceased) where she spent a lot of time in Cashmere with extended family and camping at Lake Wenatchee. She loved to swim and aspired to swim the English Channel someday. At the age of 10, while vacationing at the lake, she saved the life of a drowning 18-year-old football player and received the first “American Legion Heroism Award” ever given in Wenatchee.

She attended Puget Sound Jr. High School, Highline High School, Murphy Business College, and Edison Technical School in Seattle. Her love of pageantry started in 1957 when she was in the court of Miss Burien for the Seattle Seafair Festival. Over the years, Lorrie worked in many different fields, making an impact at each one. In the late 50’s and early 60’s she modeled for Esther Williams swimming pools, danced at the famous Whiskey a Go Go in Los Angeles, and danced in the Lido Show at the Stardust Hotel in Las Vegas. 

She then opted for a simpler life and moved to Maryland where she married Lenny Johnson, a DC fire fighter and MD native. She worked many years as a secretary and office manager while being a wife and mother and supporting Kim’s baton twirling and pageant activities. She then became the Executive Director at the Lion’s Eye Bank for the National Capitol Area advocating and coordinating organ donation. Next, she opened her own personnel agency, LJ Careers, in Rosslyn, VA catering to administrative staff and legal secretaries for clients such as Boeing, General Dynamics, and numerous DC law firms.

Her most rewarding career came when she entered the Death Industry as a Family Services Counselor at Fort Lincoln Cemetery in Brentwood. Her success there was second to none. She set company-wide sales records time and time again including National Top Counselor for 8 years. While at Fort Lincoln, she was the creator and Project Coordinator for “The Last Alarm Garden”, a section of the cemetery created as a tribute for Firefighters and EMT personnel. She said this was her greatest professional accomplishment.

In her spare time, Lorrie was involved in volunteer activities including the Ladies Auxiliary for the P.G. County Fire Department and The Greenbelt American Legion where she served as Secretary and Chaplain. She also became a local Executive Director for Miss Maryland, part of the Miss America Scholarship Organization, and ran multiple preliminary pageants each year such as Miss P.G. County and Miss Lanham. She loved mentoring and coaching, as well as the scholarships offered to young women. She developed so many beautiful and long-lasting relationships with the contestants and their parents, and her fellow pageant volunteers. Some of her most memorable times were spent in Hagerstown every June at the Miss Maryland pageant (and Denny’s) and in Atlantic City every September cheering on the current title holder, and as much time in the Casinos as possible.

In 2005, Lorrie relocated back to the beautiful state where she grew up. She wanted to spend more time with the family there including her son George and his family, as well as an aunt, two brothers, niece and nephews, and childhood friends. She continued in the cemetery business by transferring to West Hills Memorial Park in Yakima, WA. Once again, she saw a need for, and developed a new section called “The Heroes Garden”, this time for Firefighters, Police, and Veterans dedicated in 2007.

In 2020 with her health declining, she made the move back to Maryland to live with her daughter for her final years. Time spent on the east coast was a blessing as she was able to be part of multiple weddings, vacations, holidays, and just enjoy the comfort of day-to-day life with her family around her. Her favorite activity these past 4 years was absolutely being able to spend weekly, quality time with her great-granddaughter. The unbreakable bond between Heidi and “GoGo” literally fed her soul with unconditional love, smiles, and laughter.

Lorrie led a fascinating life that she lived to the fullest while giving so much to so many. She celebrated life with joy, friendship, love of family, and service to others. She was loved, respected, and appreciated by all who were blessed to be in one of her many circles. She will forever be missed.

Celebration of Life 

A Celebration of Life reception will be held on Saturday, November 2nd from 1:00-4:00pm at:

    The American Legion, Post 7

    1905 Crownsville Road

    Annapolis, MD 21401

Lorrie stated that she would appreciate donations being made in her name to any of the following organizations that were near and dear to her heart. 

1)  Miss Maryland Scholarship Organization

     Community Foundation of Carroll County c/o Miss Maryland Organization-Scholarship

     Attn: Lorrie Johnson Memorial Fund

     255 Clifton Blvd, Suite 313 Westminster, Maryland 21157

     A scholarship will be provided in Lorrie’s name at next year’s Miss Maryland pageant

 2)  American Legion Auxiliary, Unit 136

      Attn: Lorrie Johnson Memorial Fund

      P.O. Box 1063 Greenbelt, MD 20768

3)  Maryland Fire-Rescue Services Memorial Foundation, Inc.

      Attn: Lorrie Johnson Memorial Fund

      P.O. Box 742 Annapolis, MD 21204

 

To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Lorrie (Lorna) M. Johnson, please visit our flower store.

Guestbook

Visits: 317

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the
Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

Service map data © OpenStreetMap contributors

Send Flowers

Send Flowers

Plant A Tree

Plant A Tree