KAZUE JOHNSON

October 20, 1945 ~ November 18, 2010

Our beloved Mother, Kazue Johnson, age 65, Atwater resident for 19 years, passed away peacefully and with dignity in the afternoon on the 18th of November in her home as she had wished. She was born on October 20, 1945 on Miyako Island, Okinawa, Japan to Kinzo and Hidei Uesato. She was preceded in death by her father, Kinzo Uesato, her mother, Hidei Uesato, her sister, Hatsue Takazato and her husband, Bennie J. Johnson Jr. (CMsgt, USAF Retired) with whom she had a wonderful 26 year marriage. She is survived by her eldest son, Bennie J. Johnson III and wife, Maria Johnson, granddaughters, Raquel Emiko Johnson, Marisa Natsuko Johnson of Waddell, AZ, her son, Kenneth J. Johnson of Rancho Cordova, CA, her brother, Hatsuo Uesato and wife, Junko Uesato, her nephew Shingo Uesato, her niece, Miwa (Uesato) Yoshigaki of Tokyo, Japan, her neice, Hitomi Takazato and her nephews, Tadashi Takazato of Urasoe City, Okinawa, Japan, Kaoru Takazato of Sapporo, Japan, Mitsuru Takazato of Tokyo, Japan and dear cousin Toyo Miyaguni of Naha, Okinawa, Japan.

She was one of three siblings born on Miyako Island which is part of the Japanese Ryukyu Island chain which is referred to in its' entirety as Okinawa. She along with her two siblings were orphaned as children but managed to survive, thrive and overcome a lot of the difficulties of life to lead successful adult lives. Although she was unable to finish her formal education due to being orphaned at very young age, she was quite proficient in English, Japanese and her native Miyako language dialect.

She was primarily a homemaker but spent many years working various part-time jobs to assist with the expense of running a household and raising a family. A particularly notable time in her life was working in airline food service catering for the Army & Air Force Exchange Service in Japan providing meals for troops and their families departing the Far East. She made many long lasting friendships as a result of her time in that occupation.

We would also like to show our appreciation and gratitude to her longtime companion Mr. Percy Hill of Merced, CA who assisted and took great care of our Mother until the end of her life. A special mention goes out to the staff of Merced Cancer Center, her Uncle Walter & Aunt Yoshiko Bogard of Cody, Wyoming, childhood friend Chieko Weiss & husband Arthur Weiss of Las Vegas, NV, friends and neighbors Carlos & Katy Acosta of Atwater, CA, CeCe, Herman & Shirley Salas of Atwater, CA, Robert Reed of Atwater, CA as well as Carol & Arnold Brink of Modesto, CA for being especially supportive throughout the past four years of our Mother's illness. We would like to thank her brother-in-law, Masashige Takazato of Urasoe City, Okinawa, Japan for his generosity in facilitating visits from Japan so her family could spend precious time with her during her illness.

To all of her good, long-time friends, we would like to thank all of you as well as express our sincere gratitude to those who sent cards, made phone calls and visited during her time of illness and shortly after her death.

We would like to thank our Mother for allowing us to enjoy her presence, wisdom and unconditional love throughout her four year battle with cancer.

A viewing is to be held on November 27, 2010 from 1 pm to 5 pm with the ceremony taking place at San Joaquin Valley National Cemetery on November 29, 2010 at 1pm.

All services are under the direction of Ivers and Alcorn Funeral Home of Atwater 3050 N. Winton Way 209-358-4931.