06/23/2026
Mary Paulene Johnson, 91, of Albany, Oregon, passed away peacefully on June 17, 2026, with her beloved husband David by her side.
Paulene was born on November 18, 1934, in Paducah, Texas, to Elmer Franklin and Willie Mae Young.
At the age of 17, she attended an Apostolic Pentecostal Church for the first time with her mother and her sister, Norma. There she received the Holy Ghost, fell in love with the Lord, and began serving Him. From that day forward, she never looked back, serving the Lord with all her heart.
Paulene had an intense desire to learn more about her faith. She attended the Apostolic College in Tulsa, Oklahoma, where she met M. David Johnson, whom she married on December 24, 1954. They were involved in various ministry roles for nearly 50 years.
The Johnsons served as ministers in Douglas, Arizona, and pastored for short periods of time in Quinton, Oklahoma, and Spokane, Washington.
They moved to Albany, Oregon, in 1966 where they pastored until 2003, except for a two-year gap in 1973-74 when they both taught at Pentecostal Bible Institute in Tupelo, Mississippi.
Pastor David and Paulene Johnson founded Standard Christian School in 1979, and Paulene served as its first principal. She had a strong burden for children and young people through the years.
She directed many Christmas, Easter, and Pentecostal history dramas, providing young people an opportunity to learn to act and speak in front of a crowd.
She loved music and enjoyed playing the accordion, piano, and organ; singing; and leading church worship services.
She was involved in the Oregon District UPCI, working with David during the 16 years he served as Oregon District Superintendent. She had a talent for hospitality and loved to serve and host dinners for ministers, friends, and family both in her home and at church and district events.
David and Paulene had the opportunity to travel to several countries during their years of ministry and enjoyed meeting missionaries, visiting sites, or ministering in Korea, the Philippines, the Marshall Islands, and Israel.
Throughout the years, she authored many books, including eight books on prayer, family stories, historical accounts of home missions, and David's family came to discover the Apostolic message and experience the New Birth. One of the greatest highlights of her life and ministry came when she and David were able to baptize her 95-year-old father in Jesus' name. It was the answer to decades of prayer and fasting for his salvation.
She loved her son, Dennis, and her grandkids and great-grandchildren very much. She loved nature and enjoyed sharing a passion for camping, hiking, road trips, and birdwatching with her family. She was a great entertainer and storyteller and was affectionately known for recounting events which were "based on a true story." She knew how to enjoy life and would never turn down an opportunity for ice cream.
After David's retirement from pastoring in 2003, Paulene enjoyed spending time with her husband and with her family. Her faith remained strong, and she would tell anyone who would listen that being filled with the Holy Ghost was the most amazing thing that anyone could experience.
Both of Paulene's grandsons as well as her grandson-in-law are Apostolic pastors, and all her grandchildren and great-grandchildren are living for the Lord.
She was preceded in death by her sisters, Norma, Billie, LaRue, Patsy, and her sons, Dennis and Douglas.
Paulene is survived by her devoted husband of 71 years, M. David Johnson; her daughter-in-law, Valda Johnson; her granddaughter Chara Graves and her husband Shane; her grandson, David Johnson and his wife ReDana; her grandson, Nathaniel Johnson and his wife Natalie; and ten great-grandchildren, Aliya, Meilyn, Tanner, Sterlon, Brielle, Arrow, Timber, Caliber, Niall, and Lochlan; as well as one more great-grandson on the way.
