Samuel Y. Maeda

SAMUEL Y MAEDA NOV 1909 ~ MAY 2008 Longtime Livingston fruit grower. 98 years old. Born November 1909 in San Francisco to Japanese immigrant parents. Succumbed to pneumonia on Sunday at Emanuel Medical Center in Turlock. Moved with his family in 1910 to Livingston, where his father began farming as part of the Yamato Colony. Attended Livingston elementary and high schools, being a member of the 1928 graduating class at Livingston High School, the first class to have attended all four years there. Attended the University of California, Davis, earning a two-year certificate in pomology, at a time when a four year U.C. Bachelor's Degree in agriculture required the final two years to be completed in Berkeley. He returned to Livingston in 1930 to farm with his father. Married Yuri Fujii of Berkeley on May 14, 1938. At the outbreak of World War II, he and Yuri were uprooted and relocated to the Amache Relocation Center in southeast Colorado, as part of the wartime evacuation of west coast Japanese Americans and their immigrant parents. Shortly after arriving in Colorado, Sam and Yuri moved out of the camp to work for local farmers in Lamar Colorado and subsequently farmed with other evacuees in Grand Junction Colorado. Fortunate to be able to reclaim their Livingston property after the end of the war, they returned to Livingston to resume farming. Sam continued farming tree fruit until his retirement, at age 85, in 1995. Longtime member of the Livingston Rotary Club and the Livingston United Methodist Church. Was a member of the Livingston Farmers' Association and a Director of Blue Anchor, Inc., a fresh fruit marketing cooperative. In April 2006, he and Yuri moved to the Samaritan Village assisted living facility in Hughson, where he was wonderfully attended to by the caring staff. Survived by wife Yuri, son Lloyd of Citrus Heights, sister Miyoko of San Francisco, and many loving in- laws, nieces and nephews and their offspring. Preceded in death by brother Harvey of Japan. Because Yuri will be unable to attend Sam's funeral at this time, a memorial service will be held at a later date. Viewings will be held from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m. on Thursday, May 15th, and from 8:30 to 11:30 a.m. on Friday, May 16th, at the Allen Mortuary in Turlock, 247 N. Broadway. An informal graveside interment service will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Friday, May 16th, at the Winton Cemetery, 7651 W. Almond Ave, Winton.ALLEN MORTUARY www.modbee.com/obituaries www.allenmortuary.com