Gaylord G. “Skip” Johnson died April 19 in his home after 76 years of positively touching the lives of all he met and knew.

He was born July 25th, 1935 in the home of his parents Lester B. and Hilda I. (Pherson) and six siblings: Annebelle (Brown), Deloris (Sammartino), Donald, Joyce (Verley), Billie (Bethurem), and Virginia (Horner).

His knack for connecting with people began at the age of six when he embraced a life time of hard work and dedication as a bowling pin setter and newsboy. He graduated in 1953 from Sheridan High School and joined the U. S. Navy where he served in the Korean War and participated with the evacuation of the Tachen Islands in 1955.

After his release from military service, he returned to Sheridan where he met and married Ruth (Gorman), started a family, earned his college degree at Eastern Montana College of Education while juggling three full time jobs, and began his first career as a teacher and coach in Buffalo, and Midwest Wyoming.

He made a career shift to selling health insurance, transferred to Rock Springs, and significantly expanded the presence of Blue Cross and Blue Shield throughout the western part of the state before opening his own Allstate Insurance agency in Rock Springs which he operated until his retirement in 1998. He attained multiple career awards and commendations.

He returned to Sheridan but continued to work as a bingo caller, volunteer wheelchair pusher, hide collector for Elks, Substitute teacher, amateur actor, and as an active member of Elks, The Shrine, and Eagles. His service and community involvement earned him many awards including the 1970-71 Best Actor in a Supporting Role, the 1998-99 Actor of the Year, and the 2002 Elk of the year awards.

Despite his intense work life, Skip always found time to dedicate to his four sons by coaching, participating on club boards, mentoring, announcing, umpiring, officiating, taxiing, and offering daily reveille while they were growing up. Even after retiring, Skip continued to dedicate time to his children and their families: Steve and wife Julie, Stewart and wife Dianna, Daniel and wife Cindy, and Robert and ex-wife Brenda, and developed a special relationship with each of his grandchildren: Erin, Evan, Luke, Alexandra, Makayla, Olivia, Maddox, Saylor, Augustus, Macelan, Manning and Maggie. He will always be a mentor, teacher, coach, and exceptional grandparent. Of course, Skip always found time for a daily summer game of golf.

He is survived by his Wife, his sons and grandchildren, his sisters Billie, Deloris, and Virginia, his brothers-in-law Marvin Horner and Fredrick Verley, a multitude of nephews and nieces, dear friends, and countless friends and acquaintances who were touched by his energy, positive nature, and dedication to those around him.

He was preceded in death by his parents, his brothers Jack and Donald, his sisters Annabelle and Joyce, and his brothers-in-law Al Sammartino and Faye Betherm.

Services will be held on Monday, April 25, 2011 at 10:00 am at Kane Funeral Home with Father Rob Spaulding officiating. Viewing will precede the service at 8:00 am and a reception will be held at Kane Funeral Home following.

Online condolences may be written at www.kanefuneral.com.

The Sheridan Press - April 22, 2011.