WALDOBORO — Paul G. Johnson, 60, died unexpectedly on February 8, 2021 at his home in Waldoboro.

He was born September 8, 1960 in Rockland to Jesse Johnson and Winona Miller Johnson. Paul grew up in Waldoboro and graduated from Medomak Valley High School in the class of 1978. 

After high school he worked for the Poiriers of Massachusetts in the salt factory at Upton Fuel Company for a short time. Soon after, Paul returned to work on the water as a fisherman back home. He dug clams, built traps and lobstered with his father and brothers, even hauled his own gear by hand out of a wooden flat bottom skiff built by his father, Jesse, and Fernald Carter. Paul was an elver fisherman, went pogie seining, was an urchin tender for many cold winters, and had his own lobster boat for awhile...the Crissy J...named after his blonde haired-blue eyed daughter he was so proud of. He took his children Crystalle and Larry to haul with him in the summer as kids. He was the kind of father to Larry...that he didn’t have to be. He was so loved. Paul spent the last several years as a sternman lobstering alongside his cousin Dana Johnson, who was like a brother, on the F/V Three Girls for many summers. Dana knew all too well...Paul wasn’t quite a morning person. “No call...no Paul,” when it was time to go to haul. 

Paul was a very giving person. He had a big heart, and he would give you the shirt off his back, a place to stay, and his last dollar if you needed it. He would sit and pick crab meat all day long, just to give it away. He loved to have company at his home. Friends and family would stop out to Paul’s almost daily to play cribbage, drink some Budweiser, enjoy a good time and be merry. It takes a special kind of man to get so many people in such a tiny kitchen. A party at Paul’s often meant standing room only. In Paul’s younger years the gatherings often included playing horseshoes and having cookouts.

Paul enjoyed hunting, especially moose hunts up north, which would always include the Carters, who were like family. Paul was well known to be as honest and genuine as they come, and he will be dearly missed by his family and many good friends.

Paul was predeceased by his daughter, Crystalle Rose Johnson; father, Jesse J. Johnson; brothers, Douglas R. Johnson, and Robert A. Johnson Sr.; and sister, Arlene M. Johnson. 

Paul is survived by his mother, Winona Miller Johnson of Waldoboro; sister, Marie Johnson Pierce of Waldoboro; brother in law, Arthur Pierce of Phippsburg; son, Larry Reed and family, Amanda Miller, and Cheyanne Greene of Waldoboro; cousins, Dana Johnson and family, wife Annette, daughters Lindsey, Jill, Rachel and grandchildren of Waldoboro, and Rick Goff of New Hampshire; nephews, Robert A. Johnson, Jr. of Minnesota, Justin J. Johnson of Minnesota; great nieces, Lillian and Cheri, and great nephew, Jordan, all of Minnesota; several aunts, uncles, and other cousins. 

Friends are welcome to a walk through visitation on February 19, from 4 to 6 p.m., at the Hall Funeral Home, 949 Main Street, Waldoboro. A private family service will be held on February 20, which can be viewed on the Hall Funeral Home YouTube Channel on February 22.

In lieu of flowers, contributions in Paul’s memory may be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105 or American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, 199 Water Street, 11th Floor, New York, NY 10038. 

Arrangements are entrusted to Hall Funeral Home and Cremation Services in Waldoboro. 

Condolences can be shared with the family at www.hallfuneralhomes.com