1929 - 2023
Visitation
December 29, 202310:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m.
West Chelmsford United Methodist Church
Funeral
December 29, 202311:00 a.m.
West Chelmsford United Methodist Church
Harry Carl Johnson, Jr., “Pop Pop”, died at his home in Lorida, Florida on Wednesday, December 20th, 2023. Harry was born in Lowell MA, on May 5th, 1929 to the late Harry and Dorothy (Gagnon) Johnson. He is preceded in death by his first wife, Julia (MacQuarrie) Johnson, and survived by his second wife, Agatha (Shumake Pratt) Johnson.
He graduated from Westford Academy and joined the Army in 1947, serving in many areas of the U.S. and Europe. He also served in the USAR units and retired as a 1st Sargeant E-8 in 1974. He then worked for the Department of Defense as a Unit Administrator for 15 years. While living in Alexandria VA, he drove for A-1 Limousine service out of Upper Marlboro MD.
He lived in Nabnasset (Westford), Lowell, & Pepperell, MA, Alexandria VA, Clermont, Lake Placid, and Lorida, Florida. Harry loved golfing, loved to travel to see family in Norway and Sweden, and visited Denmark, Finland, Greece, Turkey, England, France, Germany, Canada, Mexico, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, Hawaii, the Bahamas, and all but four of the United States.
In 1951 he married his high school sweetheart, Julia MacQuarrie. They enjoyed a life together with their three children, camping often at Greenfield State Park and Echo Valley in NH. Traveling to Great Britain and Scandinavia was also something they enjoyed together.
In 1996 he married his second wife, Agatha Shumake Pratt. With Agatha, he was the Co-Executive Director at the Palms Estates, a retirement community in Lorida FL. He retired in 2006 from the office but continued to live at the Palms Estates.
As a Mason, he was a member of the Caleb Butler Lodge AF & AM, Ayer, MA 32nd degree.
Harry served as president of the Palms Foundation of Sebring FL for 12 years and the 2nd Vice President for TREA (The Retired Enlisted Association) Chapter 58 at MacDill Air Force Base in Tampa FL.
Harry was a member of the First Methodist Church in Sebring and the Heavenly Hosts of Heaven. He served as treasurer for the Spring Lake United Methodist Church of Sebring FL, as well as the Finance Chair and Lay Representative to Annual Conference.
He was a member of the Executive Board of Highlands County GOP, the Heritage Foundation in Washington DC, and the American Legion Post 25 Lake Placid FL.
He was also an avid Boston Red Sox fan, and attended his last game in September 2023.
Harry said “I have been blessed in my life with two wonderful wives: Julia Mae and Agatha Mae, a wonderful family of 11 grandchildren & 22
great-grandchildren, a great-great-grandson, and many friends.”
Harry is preceded in death by his brothers: Gerald and Van Johnson, sister Shirley (Johnson) DeWolfe, and daughter, Linda Johnson. Harry is survived by his two sons and their wives: Harry “Sonny” and Geraldine Johnson, and Russell and Tammy Johnson, all of Westford, MA, a step-son and his wife, Edward and Susan Pratt of Marshall, VA, as well as many grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and one great-great-grandson.
Visitation will be held on Friday, December 29, 2023 from 10:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. at the West Chelmsford United Methodist Church. A church service for Harry will be held immediately following the visiting hour on Friday, December 29th, at 11am in the West Chelmsford United Methodist Church located at 242 Main St, Chelmsford, MA. Burial to follow at Fairview Cemetery, Westford, MA. A memorial service will be held at a later date at Palms Estates, Lorida, Florida.
Memorial donations may be made to the Wounded Warrior program at https://support.woundedwarriorproject.org