Obituary of Mackinley Franklin Johnston

With deep sadness we report to the world that Mackinley Franklin Johnston passed away Saturday, February 26th, 2022.  He was a beloved son, brother, uncle, and an outstanding chef.  Mack touched many lives through his love of food, his humor, and his complicated personality.
Mack was born in Chico, CA October 19th, 1994.  He graduated Pleasant Valley High School, playing a big part in the culinary scene with his close friends.  Mack won various awards during this time and attended Le Cordon Bleu in Portland, OR receiving his AA degree.  He touched many people of Chico, CA and Portland, OR with his expertise in food and loved his work and the people he worked with.
All of his life he loved the water and outdoors.  He enjoyed humor, people’s stories and experiences, and cared so much for his friends and family.  Mack will be greatly missed by his loving family: his father and stepmother, Timothy and Rene Johnston, his mother and stepfather, Carolyn and Robert Engstrom, his sisters Samantha, Theadora, Rachel, Madison, Atlanta, and his brothers Sutter, Austin, and Parker.  His extended family and close friends share their love, and loss, and forever will.
 A Celebration of Life for Mack will be held March 12, 2022 from 12-3pm at the Culinary Building, Pleasant Valley High School, 1475 East Avenue, Chico. A scholarship supporting culinary and hospitality education has been established in Mack’s name. Contributions can be made online here: https://www.nvcf.org/funds/Mack-Johnston-Memorial-Scholarship-Fund, or sent to North Valley Community Foundation, 1811 Concord Avenue, Suite 220, Chico, CA, 95928.