Dorothy Serviss Johnson

Dorothy (Serviss) Johnson, of Dedham, MA died peacefully at home on September 2, 2026.

Dorothy was born in Snohomish, Washington on 28 September 1929 to Otto F. Serviss and Dollie Thomson Serviss. She was raised in Everett, Washington, and graduated from Everett Washington High School. She earned a Bachelor’s degree from the former Northwest Christian College in Eugene, Oregon.

After college, Dorothy moved to Colorado to live with her brother, Victor. She met Leo F. Johnson at Denver University, and they married at the university chapel. The couple moved to Fargo, North Dakota, where their son, Timothy was born in 1956. They spent most of their lives in the Boston area and were longtime members of King’s Chapel in Boston.

Dorothy devoted many years to volunteer work as a tutor of English as a Second Language (ESL), most recently with the Literacy Volunteers of America at the Morrill Memorial Library in Norwood. She maintained a lifelong interest in genealogy, and researched and self-published the story of her family, “The Serviss and Thomson Families and Their Johnnycake Journey.”

She was preceded in death by Leo, in 2019, their son, Timothy, in 2021, and her brothers, Beryl and Victor. Dorothy is survived by Timothy’s partner, Catherine Tocci of Brookline; her nieces, Suzanne Fryer (Al) of Colorado Springs, CO and Sharon Balch (Fred) of Park City, UT; and great nephews Michael of Bryce Canyon City, UT and Christopher (Melissa) of Salt Lake City, as well as the children of several cousins.

Family and friends anticipate holding a memorial gathering at Traditions of Dedham, where Dorothy and Leo made their home during the past decade. Interment will be alongside Leo and Timothy at the Goodland County Cemetery, Kansas, near Leo’s childhood home.

In lieu of flowers, please make a donation to the charity of your choice.