James Edward Johnson

God called James E. Johnson “Billy” home on September 22, 2016 in Portland, Oregon. James was born on August 5, 1935 in Hillsboro, Texas to parents Fonzie and Minnie Johnson. He was one of fourteen children born to their union. James occasionally attended church of Christ with his family.

James and his beautiful wife Pernie, affectionately known as Nora, moved to Portland, Oregon in the late fifty’s with the first two of their six children, Mae and Patricia. After relocating to Portland they added to their family James, Shera, Inez and Duke; James had a sincere love for his family.

James was known as a natural leader with an entrepreneurial spirit. He also had a passion for music. Bridging the two, he became the owner of Hot Spot Record Shop on Martin Luther King Jr., in the early eighty’s, which he managed and operated for many years. He also owned a U-Haul business in addition to a car detail shop with his brothers. James retired as a journeyman construction worker with Local 296, some of the projects that he was proud to say that he worked on were: The Fremont Bridge, Union Bank Tower, Jantzen Beach Center, Trojan Nuclear Plant and Providence Hospital.

Some of his proudest moments were the birth of his children and watching them grow up and start their own families and become successful adults. He was very happy with the arrival of each grandchild, great-grandchild and great-great-grandchild. James loved to travel, hunt, fish and cook for his family for special occasions where the family came together to reminisce, laugh and enjoy one another’s company

He was loved by all and will be truly missed.