Greg "Slim Lively" Johnson Memorial Fund

With heavy hearts, we are deeply saddened to announce the passing of Greg “Slim Lively” Johnson. 

Greg passed peacefully March 24th with the love of his life, Cherie at his side. 

May he live in our hearts forever.

Keeping his Gofundme open to help support Cherie and family. Thank you. 

Photo by: Kathy Rankin 

From Cherie:

I don’t know how to say this in an easy or any less painful way so I’m just going to say it. My love, my husband, my best friend Greg Slim Lively Johnson passed away last night. I am so sad I & the world will be without him. Gregory Vincent "Slim Lively" Johnson March 15th 1959 -March 24th 2022 You are life itself without boundaries Greg has suffered physically for a year with health complications. The door has been opened & Greg passed through & now is not limited to his physical body or in anymore pain or trauma. So my darling RISE UP past any physical or worldly restraints Have no fear We claim our love You are my love & I yours & you will ALWAYS be with me. Everyone who loves you surrounds you with love & light ALWAYS! Blessed & grateful for the life we share, our endless love, being my best friend, teacher, rock, compass, your integrity, intelligence, humor, leadership & faithful service to our community. Shine that light my love on the edge of darkness #bealight On March 23rd 2022 exactly one year from when Greg's health crisis began he was moved over to the Ray Hickey Hospice House in Vancouver. Greg had been there only one night & yesterday I was with Greg throughout the day & witnessed the fast decline. I had been reading poetry for Greg, playing him music & we were listening to our beloved John Prine when Greg took his last breath.

GREG IS HOME!! 

Update from Greg’s wife, Cherie:

Graduation day for Greg Slim Lively Johnson at RIO Rehabilitation Institute of Oregon.

 Worked so hard to get to this point of being stable to leave Good Samaritan & strides of progress with therapy that will continue with in home health care & therapy. Thank you to amazing doctors, nurses, therapists at RIO. Where would we be without you?! We will have to face next part of MRI & surgery in coming weeks. 

What a special day for Greg to finally come home Congratulations due to Greg Slim Lively Johnson on receiving the George Page Back What You Believe In Award last night at CBA Muddy Awards. 

We are grateful for all the love, prayers, good juju & help sent our way. We wouldn't be where we are without you.

Update on CBA President Greg “Slim Lively” Johnson

Sunday, September 12th 

From his wife, Cherie, who continues to tirelessly manage his care and make needed adjustments to accommodate Greg’s changing needs going forward:

Good Sunday morning friends ❣ I wasn't the only one who was so happy to see Greg Slim Lively Johnson this weekend! Bye quarantine, hello hugs & smooches...and maybe a nap together ❤

It's been two weeks since we got to be next to our best friend. It's been three months of not having Greg at home with us.. it's been six months since beginning of health crisis. Life outside is very different from being inside these walls to recovery!

Pretty stinking proud of myself for getting us moved this weekend  (thank you to friends who helped, you know who you are) and a home Greg can return to with no stairs

I just wanted to say thank you for all of the love and support we have gotten these past months. Simply amazing!  We are so lucky to have all the support we have!. #StrongerTogether 

And Blues For Slim Lively October 17th Crystal Ballroom www.cascadetickets.com

 ❤️❤️ #wegotthis

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Update on Greg “Slim Lively” Johnson 

August 19, 2021

From his wife, Cherie:

Good morning friends 

Today Greg Slim Lively Johnson returns to St Vincent's hospital for an MRI. Next week on the 25th (our anniversary) we meet with his surgeon for consultation about surgery for removal of tumor. No date set for surgery. 

Andy Greg's physical therapist doesn't want Greg to get off track with all the progress he is making physically. Andy OK'd another FOUR weeks at Marquis which has to still pass through insurance. Yesterday Andy also gave hopeful news that Greg would be eligible now for RIO at Good Samaritan. He hadn't been strong enough till now.. At RIO ALL they do is work with stroke patients & have heard amazing things about their facility. It would be fantastic if Greg got in!!

Greg has been introduced by P.T to a temporary AFS (leg brace)  which has helped tremendously & will be fitted for his own & knee brace. With 'assistance' Greg is walking in hallway short distances. Working on balance, strength & endurance. Imagine having to learn how to walk again....working with occupational & speech therapy. The speech has a long way to go & will take a long time to recover if it fully comes back at all. 

So glad I found a ground level apartment that I will be moving us into weekend of September 10th. Thank you Geoffrey Reece for helping me with movers. With all our stairs I couldn't possibly be doing it on own for move out. To know Greg could come home home gives me hope! What  I am also working on is getting an ADA vehicle so we don't have to rely on transports which is NOT covered by insurance & they are a hundred  dollars each time you use one. It would be fantastic if I could drive us around instead. 

Want to thank everyone for your continued prayers, support, kindness shown. This last year has been the hardest time of our lives & you all have made it so much better by LIFTING US UP!!  

BIG SHOUT to Tracy Turner-Pain for getting the Gofundme me started https://gofund.me/e47b1aac

Thank you to ALL involved for "BLUES FOR SLIM LIVELY"  October 17th at Crystal Ballroom.  Tickets are selling!!! 

www.CascadeTickets.com

or purchase at Music Millennium.

#teamslimlively #StrongerTogether

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Update on CBA President Greg “Slim Lively” Johnson 

August 4, 2021

From Cherie Johnson:

Hello friends and family

Update on Greg Slim Lively Johnson continues to be at St Vincent's hospital where he has been since last Thursday.

We got through procedure on knowing why Greg was bleeding internally. He has a large hiatal hernia & esophagitis. A new medication has been introduced to help with infection in his blood. He will have to be on this rest of his life. News that was given July 23rd from his cancer doctor for surgery to remove tumor is NOW back on HOLD indefinitely. Currently we are waiting on Greg's insurance for approval for him to return to Marquis Vermont Hills & get back on track with physical therapy and speech therapy. It's VERY IMPORTANT for Greg's recovery from severe stroke. 

We can have the BEST intentions on plans & to work towards those plans but we can see so much is out of our control. Right now we are at the mercy of what Greg's body is doing physically. We must HOLD ONTO HOPE ❣

Thank you everyone for continued prayers and support and for keeping Greg & I close to your thoughts & hearts. ❤

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Update on Cascade Blues Association President Greg “Slim Lively” Johnson 

July 30th, 2021

Please continue prayers for Greg as he has suffered another major setback yesterday while at the Marquis Vermont Rehabilitation center, where he’d been doing hard recovery following his massive stroke May 27th. 

Greg and Cherie continue to face unimaginable challenges in their quest to recover from the stroke and continue his much needed treatment for his cancer. 

The road ahead is a long one, full of many unknowns. But the love snd support from his loving wife, Cherie and the outpouring of support and encouragement from friends and family has made a tremendous difference in Greg’s desire to keep fighting.  Please, continue to donate and share Greg’s GoFundMe. Your contributions will help to lighten their financial hardships ahead. 

Thank you!

From Cherie:

Greg has been brought into St Vincent Hospital emergency. Currently Greg Slim Lively Johnson is having a blood transfusion. Greg is bleeding internally the doctor can not give reason why,  he was vomiting blood & has a low blood count. 

He will be readmitted back into St Vincent Hospital for further examinations. 

Thank you for continued prayers.

Update: 

June 7, 2021

On May 27th Greg “Slim Lively” suffered a severe, massive stroke.  This, as you can imagine, has caused catastrophic repercussions in addition to Greg’s planned lengthy cancer treatments. 

Greg underwent emergency surgery to remove a blood clot from his brain. 

As a result, Greg is unable to talk, sit up or walk and the stroke affected his entire right side. 

Since then Greg has been moved to Marquis Vermont Hills where he will be doing hard rehabilitation to recover.   

All his cancer treatments have been postponed. 

Greg will have to do HARD physical therapy, speech & occupational therapy and most likely won't be coming home for months. His doctors have said it's going to take a long time for recovery. 

On top of all of this, his wife Cherie (who has constantly been at his side) recently discovered that her car had been broken into (again!) and severely vandalized by thieves rendering her without transportation. 

This unimaginable and untimely setback has been extremely devastating to Greg & Cherie, but has unaffected their strong love for each other and determination to continue fighting for his recovery. 

Although there are many unknowns ahead, they have felt the enormous love of their community and that has helped sustain them.  They are truly grateful. ♥️

Please, continue to keep that love coming for Greg & Cherie. It is needed now more than ever. 

Thank you

-Team Slim Lively ♥️

This GoFundMe campaign is being created for Greg "Slim Lively" Johnson, Portland’s Cascade Blues Association President, who was recently diagnosed with cancer.

On Tuesday, March 23rd, Greg was rushed to the ER by his wife Cherie Johnson with abdominal pain.  Upon examination and tests, it was determined that Greg had a potentially dangerous obstruction and had to undergo emergency surgery the following day.  During that surgery, the doctors discovered a mass and performed a biopsy.  That mass was later confirmed as cancer.  

While Greg’s doctors were able to successfully treat his obstruction, the news of the cancer was an unexpected and devastating blow to both Greg and Cherie. Aside from the challenges Greg faces in recovering from the invasive surgery he’s just endured (which in itself will involve special care and rehabilitation in the weeks ahead), he is now faced with many months of radiation treatment, chemo, and additional surgeries. As you can imagine, this has been a life changing event for both Greg and Cherie; Greg was forced into taking an immediate leave of absence from his job and Cherie has had to dramatically cut her hours at work to help with her husband’s treatment and recovery. 

Both Greg and Cherie have been extremely active in the Blues/ Music community for many years, supporting hundreds of musicians as well as innumerable music industry events and workers.  In particular, they’ve always stepped up in a big way when others have been stricken with cancer or other serious illness.  Now, it’s Greg and Cherie who need our help.  Please, show your support for this amazing, loving couple as they cope with the medical crisis they’re facing.  The upcoming weeks ahead will be critical as Greg undergoes more testing to see how far his cancer has advanced.  We will be posting updates as they come in.  

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For those who may be unfamiliar with Greg’s enormous contributions to the blues community, below is some more detail:

--President of one of the country’s strongest blues associations since 2002, keeping the organization stable and financially sound through turbulent times; 
--BluesNotes contributor, writing the majority of every issue and serving as official photographer;
--Chair and co-founder of Journey to Memphis competition 2000 to present;
--Muddy Awards committee/chair, 1998 to present; 
--Scheduling monthly CBA General Membership Meetings;
--Liaison with The Blues Foundation, other Blues Societies, multiple festivals and media contact;
--Emcee at the Waterfront Blues Festival and other blues events; 
--Past stage manager in Memphis for the International Blues Challenge at Orpheum Theater and running Club 152 during IBC for 13 years;
--Stage manager for the Blues Music Awards for seven years; 
--In recognition of these and many other contributions, Greg has been the recipient of MANY industry honors, including the Blues Foundation’s “Keeping the Blues Alive” award and more!

Thank you, 
Tracy Turner-Pain
Team Slim Lively