LILY "Yoyo" SAKAMOTO

Lily Yoneyo Sakamoto was born Lily Yoneyo Shimamura in Seattle, Wa. on January 28, 1930. Her father was an Issei who returned to Japan shortly after her birth. Her mother, a Nisei, was Kiyoko Shimanura (nee Oyama) who passed on a few years ago. In her early years, Lily was known as Yoyo, a contraction of her middle name. An older Issei couple adopted Yoyo during her Elementary School years. She became Lily Yoneyo Ishii. Her adopted father worked for many years on the Great Northern Railroad until his death. WWII required Yoyo and her mother to evacuate to a WWII Relocation Center in Idaho. Not wanting to spend any time in a Camp, they left for Cleveland, Ohio where they lived for a few years until they were able to return to Washington. Her adopted mother passed on shortly there-after and Yoyo was again reunited with her mother. After graduating from Garfield High School in Seattle, Yoyo worked in Seattle on two jobs, one as a waitress and the other as a clerk in a jewelry store. She eventually obtained a job at General Electric Credit Corporation (GECC) as a general office worker. Her early adult life emphasized bowling among the lare Japanese American population bowl-ing principally at a Nisei operated establish-ment. She achieved reasonable fame as an accomplished bowler in the Northwest. She met Norman Sakamoto in Seattle in 1951 at an ice skating rink. Norman entered military service in February 1953. They were married in Reedley on September 6, 1953. Memorable in the event was that Yoyo selected as Bridesmaids a friend from Seattle, a friend from Reedley and a cousin from Pasadena. Yoyo transferred from GECC in Seattle to Fresno being promoted to the accounting department. She lived with Norman's parents while Norman fulfilled his military service. When Norman was separated from the US Army in June of 1955, they moved to Los Angeles where Norman went to school and Yoyo transferred (again) to GECC in Los Angeles. During her stay in Los Angeles she had been elevated to a position of Auditor and for a short time she obstensibly managed the small Hollywood CECC Office. While at this office, she met Dimitri Tiomkin, famous Hollywood film music composer while in the elevator. Two years later Norman graduated from Aeronautical Engineering studies and obtained a position with an Aerospace company in San Diego. They moved again in succession to Chula Visa, North Park, Clair-mont and National City (all in the San Diego area). Unlikely as it may seem Yoyo again transferred to the CECC Office in San Diego.After about ten years with CECC, Yoyo moveed on to work for the local International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Office. Two years later she moved on to work for the Carpenter's Local for about four years after which she retired from professional employment. Norman's position with the company required extensive traveling and YoYo accompanied Norman on a number of trips including Washington DC, New York, London, Paris, Rome and Cairo. The trip to Cairo included a cruise down the Nile. This trip created the most impact based on the observed plight of the poor and needy evan by Egyptian standards. On Norman's retirement, after forty seven years, Yoyo and Norman bought a home and retired in Reedley, Norman's birthplace and the location of most of his family. After two years, they moved to Clovis in order to be closer to their frequently required medical services in Fresno and Clovis. Yoyo peacefully departed our company on Saturday, August 27, 2011, while in the wonderful and loving care of the personnel at the Oakwood Gardens Health Care Facility in Fresno. Yoyo is survived by her husband Norman Sakamoto of Clovis; her sister Hatsuko of Westminster, Ca.; cousins, Carol Watanabe of Los Angeles, David Watanabe of Reseda, Nancy Yamauchi of Pasadena, Ronald Oyama of Los Angeles; and an aunt Setsuko Oyama of Los Angeles. Private family services were held on Friday, September 2, 2011. Remembrances may be made to the Fresno SPCA, 103 So. Hughes, Fresno, Ca. 93706.