Former PBS publicist Carrie Lane Johnson dies at 68
Carrie Lane Johnson, a former member of PBS’ communications department, died April 21 of pancreatic cancer. She was 68.
Carrie began her nearly 40-year career in public television at KUED7, now PBS Utah. She moved to Washington, D.C., in 1984. She worked at PBS until her retirement in 2020. At the time, she was senior director, general audience publicity strategy. Over the course of her decades-long career, she managed publicity campaigns for hundreds of PBS programs.
On the side, Carrie was an incredible writer, authoring and illustrating children’s books for her nieces, poems for her grandniece and comical excerpts about the stresses of her life.
Carrie had numerous health issues during her life, which she tackled with determination, courage and bravery. She highlighted the value of life to her family and reminded us that time is never a guarantee and to spend each day with the people you love.
Carrie was born in Salt Lake City on June 23, 1956, to Earl S. and Carolyn Harper Johnson. She graduated from Cottonwood High School in 1974 and from the University of Utah in 1978 with a bachelor’s degree in political science and a certificate in international relations. Carrie always had a love for seeing the world, spending a semester in France in high school and college and later biking and eating her way through Canada and the eastern U.S.
She was preceded in death by her parents and brother-in-law Randy Baird.
She is survived by her sisters Chrys Baird and Corinne Foutz; her brother Eric Johnson; her nieces Chandler Johnson and Caitlin Lemmon; her grandniece Lennie Eggertz; her brother-in-law Jason Foutz; Chandler’s mother, Linda Sigvardt; and her beloved cat, Cady Bug.
The family wishes to thank the staffs at Cogir of Old Town Alexandria Assisted Living, Caregivers Home Health Hospice, Vita Care and Bayada Home Health Care for the wonderful care they provided Carrie.
Donations in her honor may be made to PBS, the Cancer Society, the Parkinson’s Foundation or the giver’s favorite charity.
The family requests no flowers.
