Leah Annette Johnson Arnett, age 81, passed away on Feb. 5, 2018 in Yakima, Washington. She was born in Phoenix, Arizona on June 7, 1936 to William Percy Johnson and Ethelyn Haws Johnson.

Leah is a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The Johnson family’s traditions of faith in God, love of country, hard work, and service to others became lifelong guiding principles for Leah.

Leah married Lee Dexter Arnett, of Cleveland, Ohio, in Denver, Colorado on June 21, 1956. Their marriage was sealed on March 15, 1957 in the Mesa Arizona Temple. Their children are Gary of Blue Springs, Missouri, Patricia Fielding of Idaho Falls, Idaho, Larry of Morgan Hill, California, Daniel of Selah, Washington, and David of Vancouver, Washington. Lavinia Tisi of Tuba City, Arizona is like a daughter to Leah and Lee. They have been blessed with 26 grandchildren and 32 great-grandchildren. Leah is preceded in death by her parents, and ten of her siblings. She is survived by her husband, all of her descendants, and her sisters Priscilla Cahoon and Karen Eastwood.

Lee and Leah lived in the Denver, Cleveland, and Los Angeles, California areas before coming to Yakima in 1976. In Yakima, they owned Arnett Engineering Inc., and Arnett Properties. Leah held a private pilot’s license. She was active in the Yakima County Republican Party, and served as President of the Yakima Mobile Home Park Association.

Leah’s many years of service to God included leadership in the ministries for children and for women. She enjoyed playing piano and organ, directing children’s choruses and youth plays, and visiting those who were ill or lonely. Leah has completed the test of mortality firm in her faith, and doubtless she was greeted as she returned to her heavenly home with the words, “well done.”

Memorial services will be held at Shaw & Sons in Yakima. Viewings will be held from 5 to 8 p.m. on Thursday Feb. 15, and from 9 to 9:30 a.m. on Friday Feb. 16. The funeral will follow at 10 a.m. A brief graveside service will be held at noon the same day at Terrace Heights Memorial Park.

Since Leah’s condition was similar to Alzheimer’s, in lieu of sending flowers the family invites well-wishers to contribute to the Alzheimer’s Association at alz.org to battle this and related brain diseases.