Kent Warren Johnson

Kent Warren Johnson
March 8, 1937 – January 28, 2024

May the seas lie smooth before you. May a gentle breeze forever fill your sails. May sunshine warm your face.
Kent Warren Johnson, 86, was born to Clara Ferretti and Albert Johnson, at Providence Hospital in Seattle Washington. He lived a full life, spending time with family, enjoying everything there was to love about the Pacific Northwest, and creating an architectural legacy in and around the Seattle area. During his last years, he moved into Providence Mount Saint Vincent’s in West Seattle and smiled at the thought of coming full circle back to Providence. He continued drafting a few residential projects while enjoying the intergenerational activities with the children and sparking up conversations with new friends and staff.
Kent attended Concord Grade School, graduating from Cleveland High School in 1955. He was involved with a number of activities during this time, including The Boys Club, Stage Crew, Hall Squad, Torch Club and The Aquila Yearbook Staff, where he was considered “The Artist”, as so many of his drawings were included in the yearbook. He also enjoyed working with wood. When he was 15, he designed and built a model automobile and entered it into a national competition, where he was awarded the “Certificate of Design” from Fisher Body Craftsman’s Guild out of Detroit Michigan.
He went on to attend The University of Washington College of Architecture and Urban Planning, graduating with a Bachelor of Architecture in 1960. While in college, he married his high school sweetheart from Franklin High School, Patricia Luzella Owens. They enjoyed square dancing together, and soon after began raising a family of 4 children.
Most of Kent’s early years were spent in Seattle’s South Park neighborhood. He was raised by his Aunt Hulda (Paternal Norwegian side) and spent time on the family farm (Maternal Italian side). There were stories of tasting the family wine at an early age, large Italian family gatherings and a story of an emergency landing of an airplane, that would have smashed into the back of a bus where he was sitting, if the wing hadn’t clipped a telephone pole at the last minute, turning the airplane in another direction just in time.
Kent spent most of his life working as an Architect, and he loved what he did. His early years were spent working with Robert B. Price and James L. Dersham and later with Fred Bassetti (Fred Bassetti & Company which became Bassetti Architects), where he was eventually named an associate of the firm. Years later, he worked with Stan Cruse (Johnson & Cruse Architects) and finally went out on his own as Kent Johnson Architect.
Some of his early works included The Seattle Federal Office Building, the Municipal Tower (formally known as the Key Tower) and award-winning dormitories at both Western Washington State University in Bellingham and Central Washington University in Ellensburg. In 1966, while working for Fred Bassetti & Company, he received an award from The American Institute of Architects (AIA) “Excellence in Architectural Draftsmanship”. This was one of many awards he received during his architectural career, including one as a national winner in the General Electric Co.’s kitchen concept design competition.
Some of his proudest projects were those at The Woodland Park Zoo: The Children’s Zoo Farmyard Village, The Tropical House, and The Poncho Theater. He was also proud of his accomplishments in designing affordable housing, including The Yesler Terrace, The Seattle Housing Authority’s first project. He would go on to complete many more projects for SHA throughout the Seattle area.
Kent also loved to create one-of-a-kind homes, like the award-winning pyramid home on Whidbey Island. He was awarded The American Institute of Architects (AIA) Western Home Award, with Sunset Magazine, appearing in the April 1978 edition of the magazine he loved so much. Many summers were spent there, creating amazing family memories: beachcombing, rock painting, basketball (horse), pickleball, and fishing (usually ending up with dogfish or a great story of the “big one that got away”).
In his later years, he worked out of his office on Boat Street, overlooking Lake Union. With his sailboat moored nearby, he often took the afternoons off to sail around the lake. He also enjoyed the longer trips, sailing through the Ballard Locks, and up to the San Juan Islands.
When Kent wasn’t working or sailing, he could be found playing his Banjo, enjoying a game of Spanish 21, crafting original holiday cards each year, listening to his favorite comedian George Carlin, or watching his favorite late night talk show host, Johnny Carson. He loved to shop the Pike Place Market for true Italian specialty foods and would cook up amazing dishes with the ingredients he found. He always had a gallon of olive oil somewhere, and we usually received one for the holidays. He also loved to dumpster dive and we often found ourselves waiting in the car, as he stopped for “just a second” to see what gem he could find. His window sills were lined with those treasured knick knacks. And often…he dreamed with pen in hand, on future house designs for his children.
We have been blessed with so many memories: Our outdoor adventures (camping at Shi Shi, singing trail songs, evening walks/jogs around the neighborhood), eating amazing foods (breakfast Frittata, home-made Pesto, thinly sliced salami, home-made Gorp), enjoying the time together at home (piano duets to Take Five and Chopsticks, playing penny-ante poker, watching Laugh-In) and our yearly trips to Whidbey Island.
Kent is survived by his sister, Celeste Johnson of Seattle WA, his 4 children, Renee Bailey (Paul) of Harrison ID, Del Johnson of Seattle WA, Sheri Turner (Lee) of Vashon WA, and Andrea Byam (Andy) of Lynnwood WA, his grandchildren, Diana and Zachary Bailey, Cody and Jesse Turner, and his great grandchild Sebastian.
A private ceremony will be held in the Summer, when we can celebrate his love for the Puget Sound area and enjoy the shellfish and seafood he loved so well.
Heartfelt thanks to all those at The Mount for their love, support, comfort, and friendship. The best home we could have ever asked for, for our Dad.

Wishing you fair winds and following seas, and a belly full of oysters and mussels.