Farmington, NH

Sandy Johnson of Farmington, passed away unexpectedly but peacefully on March 29 in her Florida home of Viera, a day before her 61st birthday. She was born in Rochester, the daughter of Ray Boulay and Mildred "Milli" (Therrien) Boulay.

A life-long resident of Farmington, Sandy was married to the love of her life, Nick Johnson Sr., for 42 years. Their spark began in sixth grade when Nick wrote Sandy a note telling her he liked her. They were high school sweethearts by the time they were sophomores and soulmates for life. After marrying and spending four years together in the early 1980s in Abilene, Texas, where Nick was stationed with the United States Air Force, the young couple returned to Farmington to stay with a baby, Nick Jr., in tow. Their daughters, Sayre and Laura, followed. Nick and Sandy raised their family in their welcoming Farmington home on the Bay Road, which they lovingly improved over the years.

Sandy or "Bub", as Nick affectionately called his wife, loved family, Farmington, friends, and New Hampshire; not necessarily in that order, although family always came first. She adored her children and her grandchildren, who she cared for when the older ones were younger and was still doing so with the young ones, Casey Jr. and Rory, at the time of her death. Gaga or Gram to her grandchildren, she treasured their company, reciting her version of nursery rhymes or singing to them. She sang "Rory-O" to little Rory, the newest grandchild born last November, her spin on the "Oeo-Oh" chant by the Winkie Guards from the 1939 movie classic "The Wizard of Oz." She also enjoyed attending her grandkids' sporting events, whether that be volleyball, baseball or basketball. Sandy had nicknames for her grandkids. Laura's children were Rory-O and Luvbug (Casey); Nick Jr.'s kids Zoey and Nick III were Zozo and Bucky, although Bucky was actually her husband's invention. Sayre's boys – Colby and Trey – were Coco and Tee or T-Ray. Family for Sandy was all about love abundantly sprinkled with fun – a playbook she embraced like her mother before her.

Sandy was always fond of the beach; there she developed a life-long affinity for long walks gathering sea glass along the shore. She enjoyed being near the sea growing up when her parents had a place on Wells Beach in Maine. Fifteen years ago, Nick and Sandy purchased a home on the Florida East Coast near the beach, where they enjoyed their own company as well as that of their family and friends periodically during the winter months. Give Sandy a beach, whether it be in Florida, New Hampshire or Maine, and she was good to go. In recent years, she and Nick rented a beach house on the Atlantic Ocean in Saco, Maine, where again there was an open-door policy for family and friends to visit. Sandy enjoyed her solitude, curled up on the porch with a good book, but she liked the chaos of family and friends even better. Sandy with a grandchild in her arms or with several underfoot was right where she wanted to be.

As quick and sharp as Sandy was with her opinion, she was equally subtle and thoughtful with her generosity. It was in her nature to give, but she did so without drawing attention to herself. Sandy enjoyed cooking for others with lasagna her go-to dish. That went hand in hand with hosting family and friends, which she enjoyed in her house and by her pool. Sandy treasured cooking on most holidays for her family, but a special Christmas breakfast was at the top of the list. Although not an athlete herself, Sandy was a huge sports fan. In addition to being in attendance for her children's and grandchildrens' games, she made a point of catching the games of nephews and nieces. Sandy cherished this time of the year, watching the NCAA basketball tournament on TV.

Sandy's plan for life was pretty simple. She wanted to be married to Nick; she wanted to have kids and she wanted to have grandkids. That was her dream and she lived it to the fullest with Nick, her kids, her grandkids and her extended family.

Sandy is survived by her husband, Nick, and their three children: Nick Jr. and his wife Diana of Farmington; Sayre Whitehouse and her husband Jayson of Alton, and Laura Lebel and her husband Casey Sr. of Alton; six grandchildren: Nick III, Zoey, Colby, Trey, Casey Jr., and Rory;  two sisters, Donna Boulay Hagar and Lorna Davis, both of Farmington; and two brothers, Gary Boulay and his wife Mary of Keene, and Paul Boulay and his wife Donna Flayhan of Kingston, New York; her father, Ray Boulay and his wife Pat of Melbourne, Florida; her mother-in-law, Charlotte Johnson of Farmington, and many nephews and nieces. Sandy was predeceased by her mother, Mildred "Milli" Boulay, and her father-in-law, Pete Johnson.

A memorial gathering will be held on Saturday, April 8, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., at the First Congregational Church on Main Street in Farmington.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made in her memory to:  Sandy L. Johnson Scholarship Fund, c/o Nick Johnson, PO Box 249, Farmington, NH 03835.

To express condolences, please visit: www.peasleefuneralhome.com