Like that of a tropical sun, the warmth of Geraldine Myrna Keikilani Malo Johnson's beautiful "Aloha" spirit touched all who were fortunate enough to meet or know her. A child of Hawai'i, Gerry's devotion to her faith and her family was as unyielding as the waves upon the shore, her smile and gentle laugh as refreshing as a cool ocean breeze, her service to others as nurturing as the rains upon the verdant mountains. She will be sorely missed, yet just as the sun sets only to rise again, we take comfort in knowing that our beloved "Tutu" also will rise again, more glorious than ever.

Gerry was born on 15 August 1931 to John David Malo and Mary Ka'iwa'iwa Kauka, the eldest of nine children. As the eldest, she had many responsibilities thrust upon her at an early age. Besides helping her crippled mother with the other children, cooking, and cleaning, Gerry was called upon to assist her father in his work as a fisherman. She often shared stories of accompanying her father down the old Hawaiian trails at night to go night fishing, being careful to avoid the "nightwalkers," or of having to use an axe to behead a sea turtle her father had caught for the local Japanese tea house. In order to help the family make ends meet, as a young teenager Gerry went to work as a maid in the home of George and Elsa Richardson. George was a good friend of Gerry's grandfather, David Malo, and had been allowed to build a home on the family's land outside Hilo on the Big Island of Hawai'i. Gerry learned to work hard, a trait she kept throughout her life. Gerry also learned of the harsh realities of war through her experiences during the Second World War, including waking up early one Sunday morning in December 1941 and hearing the sound of ominous "booms" rolling across the ocean from Oahu and then waking her father to panicked reports on the radio of the attack on Pearl Harbor. With U.S. troops quartered in the basement of their house, gun emplacements set up in her school playground, and Japanese POWs imprisoned down the street, Gerry saw first-hand the trauma of war and always had a special place in her heart for those who serve in protecting our country.

As Gerry neared graduation from Hilo High School, her parents made arrangements to send her to the U.S. mainland for college. Her mother was particularly anxious for her to leave their sleepy hometown of Hilo and make something of herself in the bigger world. Although hesitant to leave her family and island home, Gerry saw her parents' faith and their scrimping and saving for her and ultimately took that fateful step of traveling to the mainland to attend college at Brigham Young University in Utah. It was during the summer after her freshman year, while living with her aunt in southern California to work and earn money for school, that she met and eventually married Gordon Grant Johnson, a handsome young engineer from Yankton, South Dakota, who had been swept off his feet by her exotic Hawaiian beauty and sweet, vivacious personality.

Together Gordon and Gerry raised a happy family of five children—Gordon Jr., Debra, Andrea, and twins Scott and Steven. As an electrical engineer for the U.S. Navy, Boeing, and later Westinghouse, Gordon moved the family across the continental U.S. and Hawaii, living in 10 different states and many more houses. In all their moves, Gerry was a tower of strength and continuity, always comforting the children as they faced going to new schools and making new friends. Gerry also put the homemaking skills she learned in her youth to good use, keeping a tidy house and cooking delicious meals. Gerry was always eager to share her love of Hawaii with others, putting on luaus for church socials, teaching hula, and—of course—singing and strumming her ukulele. In addition to her love for sewing and knitting, Gerry was skilled in making cakes, creating hundreds of gorgeous and delicious wedding and other cakes over the years, most at no cost. As the children grew older, Gerry re-entered the workforce, working in various positions, most notably for many years as an accountant at Westinghouse Oceanic in Annapolis, Maryland, where she made many dear friends. Throughout her life, Gerry served faithfully in countless Church callings at the ward and stake level, and as a temple worker and on a full-time family history mission with Gordon in Salt Lake City. She always gave 110% in her callings. More recently, she taught Sunday School in her Texas ward and spoke proudly of her students and how much she loved them. Her love for her Savior Jesus Christ strengthened her through her many trials and was reflected in her boundless love for and devotion to her family and friends. Her life will forever stand as a monument to a life well lived, a life filled with warm, enduring "Aloha." Gerry is survived by 5 children, 24 grandchildren, 48 great-grandchildren and 3 great great grandchildren.  Aloha nui loa! A hui hou! – All our love! Until we meet again!