It is what it is
Obituary
Linda Dianne (Crawford) Johnson passed away on May 31, 2026, at the age of 86 in Auburn, California. Born on August 11, 1939, in Los Angeles, California, Dianne lived a life defined by creativity, adventure, love for family, and a wicked sense of humor.
Dianne attended Montebello High School, where she met and later married her high school sweetheart, Bill Johnson, beginning a lifelong partnership. They made their home in Davis, California, raising their three daughters in a household filled with warmth, laughter, and community engagement.
While her children were growing up, Dianne was actively involved in Girl Scouts, the PTA, and church life. She was a dedicated member of University Covenant Church and later St. Martin’s Episcopal Church in Davis. Together, Dianne and Bill were founding members of the Davis Religious Community for Sanctuary (DRCS), where they worked tirelessly to support individuals affected by violence and war in Central America.
Dianne’s creative pursuits flourished in the 1970s when she discovered a passion for ceramics. What began as a hobby evolved into a successful business, as she opened a pottery shop in University Mall that became a local treasure. Committed to lifelong learning, Dianne later studied at the Fashion Institute of Technology in the 1980s. She went on to launch her own clothing line, Dianne West, and contributed designs to private labels including Levi Strauss and Carole Morgan. Her artistic vision extended internationally through her support of Guatemalan artisans, helping them develop textiles for broader markets.
In the 1990s, Dianne and Bill embraced a new chapter by purchasing a home in Homer, Alaska, where they spent summers surrounded by natural beauty.
Dianne was preceded in death by her beloved husband, William Kenneth Johnson. She is survived by her daughters, Susan Johnson, Laurie Grizoffi (Steve), and Nancy Deaver; her grandchildren, William Deaver (Paige), Cassidy Cecil (Colton), Autumn Bakkeby (Alec), and Meghan Deaver (Cameron); and her great-grandchildren, Eleanor Grace and Sutton James Cecil, William Bennett Deaver, and Wren Brynley Bakkeby.
A graveside service was held on Monday, June 8, 2026, at 12:00 p.m. at the Davis Cemetery in Davis, California.
Graveside Service
Family and friends gathered on June 8, 2026, to honor and remember Dianne Johnson, beloved mother, grandmother, and friend. The service was officiated by minister and longtime family friend, Ernie Lewis. Dianne’s nephew, Ken Robison, shared personal reflections and memories, and her daughter, Laurie, read excerpts from Dianne’s memoirs along with a poem written by Dianne.
Life's Tide
The tide comes in and then goes out
I wonder what that's all about?
Where does it go when it goes down so low?
Only to return in a few hours or so.
When it comes in it can be very high.
It seems in a hurry and I can't figure why.
But it just rushes in as if to say,
I can't be stopped so get out of the way!
For it stops for no one at all.
Just keeps moving like it might hear a call
Somewhere in the distance away so far
its movements guided by the moon or a star.
When it goes out it can go very low
Exposing sand and mud and shell to show.
It seems so strange to constantly move
Always changing with instruction from above
Life is like this ever moving tide
The highs, the lows, and no place to hide.
God gives direction and guidance to heed.
He offers love and takes care of every need.
Life and the tide are quite the same.
Moving, then returning from where it came.
The Service was followed by a family meal at one of Dianne's favorite restaurants, Paesano's. Family dined on her appetizers (polenta fries, bruschetta, fried ravioli, bocce balls) and salads (caesar and farmer's market) with iced tea. (Sadly, they were out of calamari!) A dessert of chocolate mousse cake and raspberries completed the meal. In true Johnson fashion, too much food was ordered but, leftovers, after all, are a family tradition.
Excerpt from Dianne's Memoirs
"The reason I began writing about my life has a simple answer. The answer is that my
oldest daughter, Susan, is an ancestor fanatic! She would ask a million and one
questions every time I was with her. She wanted to know my every thought and deed
of my entire life. And she begged me to write about all of my memories.
I have tried to express my joys and fears as well as my regrets, and in some cases,
remorse caused by my choices at the time. I would like to think that perhaps I have
made a difference in someone’s life because I know that there were many people who
made a profound impact on mine.
My life has been full of many happy moments but there have been a few dark periods
as well. I am so blessed to have had a good marriage and a lovely family of three
daughters and four grandchildren and now a son in law who is exceptionally sweet to
me.
God has been good to me. I was close to death twice when I was a child and my
parents always told me that God had a plan for me and that is why I was still alive.
While I am still looking for that special plan for my life, I feel God’s presence today as I
have throughout my life. I trust that each person I have been in contact with was placed
there because of God’s own plan. I also trust that He will take care of me and my family
for as long as we all live on this earth.
I have had many good people as a part of my life and I have had so very many happy
moments. Laughter and just plain fun has been part of my life for as long as I can
remember. I hope that in some small way that I can give each of you dear ones a
glimpse of the girl I was, as well as the woman I have become and am today as I
approach the end of my life’s journey. I have loved and I have been loved; And for
that, I am eternally grateful.
Timeline
Before they even left for the movie, however, Dianne found herself wondering about her date’s fashion sense. When Bill arrived to pick her up, he was wearing a pair of pink pants. Dianne thought it was certainly a bold choice and wasn't quite sure what to make of it.
It wasn’t until later that she learned the reason behind the memorable outfit: Bill was color-blind and had no idea the pants were pink. What could have been an awkward first impression instead became one of Dianne’s favorite stories to tell.
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My condolences.
Once we all had been visiting Wash DC together, both families. She and Mom had gone on to see an exhibit at the Smithsonian and we all went to another, in a different building. While we were on a tram we saw them both walking by, laughing hysterically.
They later shared than they had been caught in a downpour and had become soaked, then then went to the restroom and wrung out their clothing including their underwear and it had given them the giggles until they saw us.
Things happened when my Aunt Dianne was around, mostly because she made them happen., she was fierce and loving, giving and caustic.
I was in awe of her and loved her
Dianne became a part of everyone who met her, by osmosis
You leave lots of love in your wake
The world is a better place for having her in it.
Via Con Dios Aunt Dianne
Via Con Dios
What a wonderful, full life your mother had! My deepest sympathy to you and your family at this difficult time.
Marie
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