Patricia (Patti) Ann Johnson

Patricia (Patti) Ann Johnson, passed away June 26, 2026 at the age of 78. Patti was born June 21, 1948 in Aberdeen, SD to the late Walter and Virginia Krause, where she was one of eight siblings. She grew up in Mansfield, SD on 80 acres where her family harvested hay before Boeing recruited her and her husband Ted Pyeritz, and brought them to WA state for employment in 1966. 

Patti went on to work at the Boeing Aerospace Company for 39 years in Property Management before retiring in Puyallup, WA and shifting her focus to a life of enjoying her grandchildren even more, giving back to her community and becoming more active in the church. She especially loved working as a mentor for the WSU Master Gardener program, where she, herself had become a master gardener many years earlier. She also enjoyed working at the Puyallup Fair tending the parking lots and meeting new people.Always a hard worker, she gave so much of herself which showed in everything she did, including caring for her family and friends, working in her garden, cooking, and volunteering in her local community. She loved to cook and enjoyed canning seasonal vegetables and salsa, but her specialty was her famous dill pickles. Some of her previous hobbies and talents included playing the organ when her children were young, sewing, painting, and working on various stained glass projects. 

Survived by her children: daughter Carmen Johnson and son James E Johnson.Grandchildren: Noah Leonard, Daniel Hernandez, James Jr and McKenzie Johnson. She was especially close to her grandkids and boy did she cherish them.Patti also left behind her beloved ginger kitty cheetoh, Sisters Kay Harryman, Carol (Mark) Preszler, Linda Freeman, and Sharon (Gordon) Goetz. Brothers, Ron Spady and Alan Krause, and many treasured nieces and nephews.She is preceded in death by her spouses Ted Pyeritz and James E Johnson, her daughter Crystal Pyeritz, and her parents. Also her brother Harold Krause and niece Valerie Bain.Patti was an active member of South Tacoma Adventist Fellowship Church (STAF), where she ran the women’s ministry for 4 years and cherished her many lovely connections there, including Pastor Ruddy Vivanco.

Full of love and light, Patti was beautiful inside and out. We will always remember her fierce love for her family and friends, her kind and nurturing spirit, and her ever present faith in Jesus, and, of course, who could ever forget her contagious laugh?She made friends easily and there were many. Some of our family’s fondest memories included taking the boat to Lake Tapps on the weekends and learning to waterski, snowmobiling with the family in the winter, and summer roadtrips back to the Midwest to visit family, just to name a few.Rest easy momma until we are all reunited again in heaven.In lieu of flowers, please take time to plant something special in your garden or donate to your favorite charity.

A Celebration of Life will be held Sunday August 23, 2026 at the Point Defiance Pagoda and Japanese Garden in Tacoma, WA. Family will receive friends from 1-4 pm