Ernest "Ernie" Avery Johnson Obituary (1930

Ernest ("Ernie") Avery Johnson, 89, a resident of the Helvetia community passed away October 19, 2019 at his home surrounded by his family. Ernie was born April 24, 1930 in Petersham, Massachusetts, the youngest of two children born to Franklin and Margaret (Hyde) Johnson. He grew up in Petersham and graduated from Petersham High School with the class of 1948. Ernie attended the University of Massachusetts (UMass), Amherst, to gain a bachelor's degree in Agricultural Engineering in 1953. At UMass, Ernie met his future wife - Claire Magee. Ernie and Claire were married October 10, 1953 at Ernie's family farm in Petersham. Ernie then attended Purdue University in Indiana. At Purdue, Ernie was teaching and studying for his Master's degree. He completed his Master's degree in 1959 and moved back to Massachusetts, eventually settling in Conway, MA in 1966. Ernie was a university educator for the University of Massachusetts at Amherst, teaching and advising graduate students, and was Associate Professor of Agricultural Engineering upon his retirement from UMass about 1990. He worked as a researcher for Natick Army Labs and taught summer schools at Stockbridge School of Agriculture. Ernie was private pilot and enjoyed traveling, on the road and in the air, with his wife. They visited many places throughout the continental United States and up into Canada and Alaska. Ernie enjoyed farming and raising beef cattle. He also enjoyed reading, listening to classical music, woodworking and working on tractors and cars. Ernie and Claire had 3 children: Elizabeth, Franklin and Dana. He and his wife, Claire, moved to the Helvetia area in 1992 to be near their two daughters, Elizabeth and Dana. His biggest passion after moving to Oregon was ham radio, and he became an Extra Class License holder. Ernie was very active in both the Amateur Radio Emergency Service (ARES) and the amateur radio National Traffic System. Ernie was an assistant emergency coordinator for Washington County ARES for many years. He was a mentor to all and had many ham friends in Oregon. Ernie was preceded in death by his son Franklin, his sister Harriett Warrington and his parents. He is survived by his loving wife Claire, daughter Elizabeth ("Liz") and son-in-law Paul Thutt, daughter Dana, and his grandson Neil Thutt.