Pamela Jill Johnston was born May 19th,1950 to parents Ruth V. and C. Russel Tribbett in
Loraine, Illinois. Jill attended Loraine Grade School and graduated from Unity High School in
Mendon, IL in 1968. Growing up Jill was gifted with musical ability and enjoyed playing the
piano and organ at Loraine Christian Church and the saxophone in high school. Following high
school she attended Carthage Community College and obtained an associates
degree.

After school she married and moved to Missouri where she found her love for horses. However,
she would divorce and move to Maryland where she began working for the Department of the
Army at the Pentagon. During her time in Maryland she met her second husband, started a
family, and moved to Delta Junction, Alaska where she began crafting Alaskan clay pottery,
crocheting, and sewing. Moving from one temperature extreme to another, they relocated to
Tucson, Arizona, living there briefly before settling in Colorado, where she would begin a long-
term professional career at Coors Brewing Company. She spent 18 years working within the
company as a sales coordinator before accepting a similar role within Micromotion. She would
continue working for Micromotion for 12 years before retiring in 2010.

Jill spent many years on the Rocky Mountain Appaloosa Horse Association board of directors
where she curated awards and planned horse shows. Jill loved showing horses but also loved
being a "Show Mom," cleaning the boots of anyone who needed it before entering the show
pen. She was always there to help whoever needed it. Jill made horse show attire for her
daughter as well as clients. Countless hours were spent bonding with her daughter over the
application of rhinestones before leaving for a big competition. Ask almost anyone and they will
tell you Jill was incredibly creative, sweet, and very sassy!

Jill is survived by Her daughter, Tanya (Zach) Johnston; Brother, Thomas (Judy) Tribbett,
Quincy, Illinois; Sister, Carol Johnston, Phoenix, Arizona; and Her grandchildren Emma Cain,
Dane Johnston, Taylor Johnston, and Reese Johnston.

She is preceded in death by her parents C. Russel & Ruth V. Tribbett; Her sister Patricia
Splady; Her Brother-In-Law Ralph Splady; Her favorite horses Red, Shea & Garth; and the
horse show crew and guard dogs Skeeter, Chloe, Zima, Marshall, Stella, and Bear.

Public digital condolences may be left below, or mailed condolences may be addressed to: The Johnston Family in the care of Rowanoak Mortuary & Crematory, 231 S. Sherman Street, Fort Morgan CO, 80701.