Yoshie Yokoi

1926 - 2023

Yoshie (Yamasaki) Yokoi passed away on Feb. 24, 2023, at the age of 96. Yoshie was born on July 7, 1926, to Yonekichi and Toka Yamasaki in Salinas, Calif., little sister to Takaye. At age 14, Yoshie was licensed to drive between the ranch and school. At the ranch, Yoshie's father, "Papa," would cook rice on a wood-fired stove. Subsequent to issuance of Executive Order 9066 in February 1942, the Yamasaki family was transported in April 1942 from their ranch home in California, eventually settling into their barracks home in the Poston, Ariz., internment camp, located on the Colorado River Indian Reservation.
Yoshie graduated from high school while interning at Poston, far away from her former classmates at Salinas High School. While in camp, Yoshie wrote about joining field work outside of the dusty camp, picking cotton from an already-picked cotton field. Yoshie accepted employment as a housekeeper in Chicago, Ill., allowing her to leave Poston. Yoshie's best friend, Sumiye, would soon join her in Chicago. At age 78, Yoshie was invited to participate in graduation ceremonies held at Salinas High School in June 2005, along with other former students who were surviving internees and WWII veterans (CA 2003-2004 AB781, California Nisei High School Diploma Project).
Yoshie married Paul Yokoi in March 1949 and their family grew to include four children. After the war, Yoshie's family worked for Driscoll Strawberries. Paul retired from Driscoll's after 50 years of employment. From life on the ranch to their final home in Morgan Hill, the children were raised during years of no disposable diapers, no car seat belts, no bicycle helmets, no AC or clothes dryer in the house; milk was delivered to the house in glass bottles and it was possible to dial a local phone number using just five digits. Their neighborhood in Morgan Hill was full of children, spud guns, teachers, babysitters, scraped knees, homemade skate boards and home-to-home holiday parties. Yoshie lived in their final home for 65 years. Yoshie and Paul were married for 60 years.
Yoshie worked part-time at Hale Lumber for a short time, starting in 1963. In 1964, Yoshie started working at the Santa Clara County Library in Morgan Hill and she was recognized as an Employee of the Month in 1985. During her employment at the library, Yoshie loved working with children, some of whom remember her as "the library lady." Yoshie also worked with friends she loved, some of whom continued their friendships after retirement with their birthday-month lunches at local buffet restaurants. Yoshie retired from the library in 1988. Yoshie volunteered to work at local election polls, and she and Paul volunteered at the Info Desk at the Santa Clara County Government Center after they had retired.
Yoshie was the last of the Nisei generation in our family. Yoshie and Paul were active members of the Morgan Hill Buddhist Church, the Nisei Service Group and the South County Japanese-American Senior Group. Through their participation, the whole family had opportunities to assist and support members of the community and benefited from the generous and selfless words and deeds of so many. Yoshie was a founding member of the Morgan Hill Tai Chi Group and she loved arriving early to help set up tables with goodies and to talk with friends. Yoshie faithfully maintained written correspondence with her fifth grade teacher, Mrs. Mickelson, until Mrs. Mickelson's passing at age 96. Paul and Elinor would join Yoshie's visits with Mrs. Mickelson in the Oakland Hills and Santa Rosa. Mrs. Mickelson would recount names of Japanese-American students and where they sat in her class.
Yoshie and Paul shared so many happy hours dining out, attending celebrations, playing games and traveling with family and friends. Yoshie held each of her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren deeply within her heart. Yoshie is preceded in death by her sister, Taka; husband, Paul; daughter, Patricia (Gary); and son, Bruce. Mom will be dearly missed by daughters Nancy (Howard) and Elinor. Gma will always be the best Gma Yoshie to Michael (Linda), Paul and Gina (Brent). Emiko, Jason and Victor will hear more stories about GG Yoshie in the years to come.
Heartfelt thanks to Dr. Rachamallu for Yoshie's holistic well-being and for the dozens of pre-COVID hugs. The Family expresses gratitude to hospice case managers and nurses who provided guidance during Yoshie's palliative home care, fully appreciating the parent-child bond. The Family would like to thank Case Manager Oksana for accompanying Yoshie through each of two hospice admissions.
In lieu of flowers and koden, please donate to the Morgan Hill Buddhist Building Board, or the South County/Morgan Hill Service Group at P.O. Box 933, Morgan Hill, CA 95038, or lift up someone in need.
Private funeral services have been held. A community memorial gathering will be held on Saturday, July 29, 2023, 11:00 a.m. at the Morgan Hill Buddhist Community Center on 16450 Murphy Avenue in Morgan Hill. Yoshie was the nicest person. Ever.