Firefighter, former Valley resident, dies in hunting accident

Published 1:53 pm Thursday, October 2, 2008

RENTON – Seth E. Johnson will be missed for many reasons.

But most of all, his family, friends and fellow firefighters in Renton will miss his smile.

“He had kind of a crooked little grin he would give us lots of times, especially when he was up to something,” said Mary-Lee Johnson of her 26-year-old son who died in an Eastern Washington hunting accident Oct. 16. She lives in North Bend with her husband, Lloyd.

Johnson’s death occurred at Winchester Wasteway, located southwest of Ephrata. Police speculate he was accidentally struck by his own bullet while either loading or unloading a boat on the shore.

A Puyallup resident who grew up in the Snoqualmie Valley, Johnson was living his dream. He wanted to be a firefighter since he was a child and joined the Renton Fire Department’s Station 12 in the Highlands in 1998. The crew at Fire Station 12 struggles to come to terms with Johnson’s absence.

Lt. Brian McGee, who supervises the crew Johnson belonged to, will never forget his mischievousness. Johnson set alarm clocks to go off at inopportune times, and he moved things around in the station.

“He had a fun way of looking at just about everything,” he said.

Johnson’s parents have been cheered by the number of people who have come by or called to pay respects. In fact, they rented a high-school auditorium for his memorial service to accommodate everyone.

Approximately 100 Renton firefighters participated in a formal firefighter’s funeral service for Johnson recently.

“Every encounter I’ve ever had with Seth was extremely positive. He was a neat guy to be around,” said Deputy Fire Chief Glen Gordon, who described Johnson as always cheerful and high-spirited. “I always had a fond spot in my heart for him.”

As a professional, Johnson was described as an excellent firefighter who always gave 100 percent.

Outside of work, Johnson loved the outdoors and was an avid bird, deer and elk hunter, fisherman, golfer and a member of the fire department’s soccer and softball teams.

“He was a good guy, just one heck of a guy,” said Gordon. “You wonder, why do the good guys have to go?”

Johnson’s family and co-workers cherish memories of the man who liked to bleach the tips of his hair blond and who took time to enjoy life.

“It’s been difficult to come to work without Seth here,” Gordon said. “And there are the memories. We enjoy those memories, but it’s hard because it’s so fresh right now, just such a loss.”