Kirby Johnson remembered for civic spirit

In his final civic contribution, Kirby Johnson assured the holiday spirit was on display here amid the COVID-19 pandemic with his donation of a striking blue spruce Christmas tree for Gilkey Square.

Town employees this week removed the tree, which had drawn many admirers, signaling the end of the holiday season.

But its donor, who passed unexpectedly Dec. 10, at age 79, remained much on people’s minds, among them those crediting Johnson for having made it possible to buy homes and reside in the La Conner area.

A La Conner High and Stanford University grad, Johnson was the longtime broker at La...