Francis E. Johnson, age 80, of 35 Willow Way, Saranac Lake, died Thursday, August 14, 2014 at the Adirondack Medical Center.

Born in Bloomingdale, NY on June 17, 1934, he was the son of Charles and Ethel (Skiff) Johnson. Francis married Barbara Jones on November 7, 1957 in St. Paul's Church in Bloomingdale.

Francis was a life long resident of Saranac Lake area. He attended and graduated from Saranac Lake High School and North Country Community College with a degree in Business Administration. Francis had been employed as Director of Information Systems at the American Management Association for 39 years until his retirement in 1999. He was a member and Past Exalted ruler of the Saranac Lake Elks Lodge BPOE 1508, past vice president of New York Elks Association, past Elks District Chairman for business practice and new lodge development. He also was a member and is past President of the Saranac Lake Rotary Club, past District Treasurer of Rotary District #7040 and was named a Paul Harris Fellow by the Saranac Lake Rotary Club, which is the highest recognition given to a Rotarian. Francis served as a board member of the Maplewood Home Owners Association in Port Orange, FL and was a member and treasurer of Mended Hearts Association at CVPH in Plattsburgh. Francis was active in his parish at St. Bernard’s Church and had served there as an usher and fund raiser, was a past member and officer of St. Bernard’s School Board and Parent Teachers Association. He was an avid sports fan and especially loved watching baseball, softball, football and basketball.

He is survived by his wife Barbara, four children Pamela Johnson of Saranac Lake, Polly Doty and husband Derek of Ray Brook, William Johnson of Lyndonville, VT, and Christopher Johnson of Old Forge, NY, four grandchildren Briana and Alexandria Patnode, Orrin and Chase Atwood, two great grandsons, Liam Patnode Smith and Gannon Pelkey, one brother Russell Johnson of Vermontville, two sisters Aedele LaBrake of Malone and Phyllis King of Vermontville and many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his father, mother and two brothers Charles Johnson and Harold Paye.

Calling hours will take place at the Fortune-Keough Funeral Home on Sunday, August 17, 2014 from 4:00 PM - 7:00 PM. An Elks service will take place at 6:30 PM Sunday evening. A Mass of Christian Burial will take place at 12:00 PM on Monday August 18, 2014 St. Bernard's Church. Following cremation burial will take place at Union Cemetery in Vermontville.

Friends wishing to remember Francis E. Johnson may make memorial contributions to American Heart Assoc. in care of the funeral home. Family and friends can also share their memories and sign the online guestbook at fortunekeoughfuneralhome.com.

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