Johanna Boyle: Nov. 18, 1975 – June 2, 2019

The world lost some of its color today with the passing of Johanna Mara Lynn (Spatz) Boyle.

She was born Nov. 18, 1975 in a small house in Oak Harbor, Wash.

An inquisitive and rambunctious child who drove many crazy with attitude and questions. Which continued every day of her life growing up on Whidbey Island. She attended Coupeville schools and graduated in 1994.

On Valentine’s Day 1993 she met the love of her life, Brian Boyle, at the Blue Fox Drive-in. She was told to get out of his truck to which she replied, “No.”

They were inseparable from that point. They married Dec. 21 of that year, which was the middle of her senior year of high school. Always the rebel.

The Navy moved them all over the world, starting with Atsugi, Japan. Then to Bremerton, Wash., where both her sons were born. Tristan Jurgen Joseph Boyle was born in June 1999, and Tyler Ethan Alfons Boyle in October 2001.

Her boys were everything to her, being a stay-at-home mom was her next adventure.

The Navy then moved them all to Bathe, Maine and back to Washington again.

She loved animals and always had a menagerie in her home. Cats, dogs, guinea pigs — she loved them all.

Collector of tattoos, she was her own walking scrapbook. Never getting ink unless it was part of her life story, she wore them all ready to tell their tale. Always in full color from the crazy color of her hair to ink collection.

A Halloween enthusiast, she volunteered with her whole family to run Frightville Haunted House benefiting the Boys and Girls Club of Oak Harbor. Having earned the monicker “Mama Jo” for her genuine care and concern for all of the volunteers.

She has made a direct and lasting impression on numerous people.

She was in love with the art of creepy gore. She loved to alter dolls to terrify unsuspecting guests. Her makeup was always just the right balance of disgust and beauty, she never failed to play her part.

In Maine, they learned that their oldest son was autistic and she became his biggest advocate. Brian’s last duty station was NAS Whidbey, allowing them to settle back in Johanna’s old stomping grounds and raise their boys.

She was an avid crafter, scrapbooking for 27 years, teaching was her passion and sharing anything she knew with anyone who would care to listen and always with a smile and touch of sarcasm.

She worked at all the local craft stores in town. She couldn’t get enough creative play and creative friends.

She often went to scrapbooking retreats and made great friends. Her Zen and Flagler sisters were her extended family.

Her life was full of health challenges; chronic migraines, fibromyalgia, and rheumatoid arthritis. She took each new change as best as she could, until finally, she learned she had a genetic form of metastatic melanoma.

She fought knowing the fight was one-sided.

After a year of fighting and spending as much time as possible with her family, cancer finally won.

She was preceded in death by her sister, Jennifer Spatz. She is survived by her parents, Jurgen and Janice Spatz; husband Brian Boyle; and sons, Tristan and Tyler Boyle.

Her one and only wish was simply to be remembered, always. A celebration of her life will be held at 11 a.m. June 23 at the beach picnic area of Fort Ebey State Park.