Johnny Mac Floyd passed away suddenly and peacefully of natural causes, at home, on Aug. 21, 2021.
Johnny was born Jan. 22, 1937, to Norine Burke and Jewel Vickers Floyd, in Navasota, Texas. He grew up in Navasota, surrounded by extended family.
His mother was a nurse and when Johnny was small, they lived in the little local hospital. When Norine was called to work at night, she would take Johnny with her. From the window of an adjoining office, he would watch her assist with emergency surgeries. Her dedication to nursing instilled a deep service ethic in Johnny. After graduating from high school, he enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps and served for 20 years. Eventually, he received a commission and retired as a captain. He went overseas twice and was awarded the Purple Heart during his tour of Vietnam in 1967. He carried the core values he learned in the USMC with him throughout his life. As he often told his children, “Once a Marine, always a Marine.”
In 1958, Johnny met and married the love of his life, Claire Lydon Floyd, in Tuscon, Arizona. They had two daughters, Elisa and Shannon. The four of them had many adventures, traveling from coast to coast, living at duty stations from Washington, D.C. to Kaneohe, Hawaii; from Kodiak, Alaska to New Orleans, Louisiana. In-between, there were many visits to Claire’s family in Rhode Island and Johnny’s family in Texas.
In 1976, the Floyds decided it was time for a new adventure. Johnny retired from the USMC and the family moved to Port Townsend, Washington. He and Claire were active in the life of the community for many years. Johnny worked for the City of Port Townsend and Jefferson County. They both worked on numerous political campaigns and local causes.
And there was fun: Johnny was at the inaugural Port Townsend Chili Cook-off, and was part of a group of Oklahoma/Texas transplants and friends, who loved to barbecue on Fourth of July. In 1990, Johnny and Claire spent a year living in Claire’s ancestral village in western Ireland.
In 2008, Claire became ill and required full-time nursing care at Messenger House on Bainbridge Island. Johnny commuted to the gentle care unit at Messenger House five days a week, for five years, to visit and care for her. The staff there became a second family to Johnny and Claire.
After Claire’s death in 2012, Johnny mourned and remained at the family home of 45 years. He had a weekly round of people he visited, and was always sure to bring a small gift. He maintained his friendships with the nursing staff who cared for Claire, chatted with his daughters, and spent much time with daughter Elisa and her partner Michael. The last few years of his life, he even invested a little in Michael’s coffee company, Port Townsend Coffee Roasting. He dropped by the roaster frequently to see how things were going. And every visit, watching Michael roast, he would say, “I love hard work. I could stand here and watch it all day!”
Johnny is sorely missed. He leaves behind Elisa Westall (Michael LeDonna); Shannon (Jim) Madonna; his sister Peggy (David) Choate; and two nephews. He will forever be a hero to his family for his love and dedication to his beloved Claire. Semper Fi, Johnny Mac. Always Faithful.
A Celebration of Life is planned for June 2022. If you would like to remember Johnny in some way, please send a donation to Habitat for Humanity, his favorite organization.
