By Peggy Stone
When Johnson Chapman was born she
threw her family for a loop, especially her father, who had been totally expecting
a son. After all, he already had daughters! In anticipation of the baby’s
arrival, he had carved “KV, Jr.” into the cradle. So he had to make some
adjustments and come up with a new name. The result is Lawana, which he made up.
She describes her parents as the Ozzie and Harriet of rural America. The family
lived on a farm in the Laurel area and the girls went through Meridian schools.
The one exception to living in that location was the six months when they moved
to Alaska, and her father worked in a mining camp. During that short time the
daughters attended a one-room school.
Lawana and her husband lived at
Sandy Point. He worked at Pioneer Ford in Lynden, and she at Sea K Fish
Company, from which she retired after 33 years. Within 3 months of her retirement
her husband passed away unexpectedly. Suddenly she was faced with many adjustments
and decisions, but she made them all, and that is behind her.
The latter son is the U.S. military
attaché to that country. Her children have given her five granddaughters.
Most important to her now are
family, friends and community, to which she gives generously of herself. She is
active in so many community organizations, too numerous to list here, but among
them is the Ferndale Senior Center. She serves its Jet Oldsters as treasurer
and grant writer. Her years of work at Sea K where she
served as accountant and office manager, and the various
volunteer positions she has held in service organizations have prepared her well
for this office. They have given her a good overall view of money management
and accounting. She says, “You take what talents and skills you have, and
contribute to the community.”
Her current interests include
reading, and exploring Pacific Northwest artists by visiting galleries. Much to
her own surprise, she also has acquired a taste for Impressionism art. She is thankful
of the many joys life has dealt her, and “for the wonderful childhood I had,
for it gave me the faith to face life’s challenges.”
