Misako Allen

Misako Allen, 95 of Johns Island, South Carolina, passed away on Tuesday, June 18, 2024.

 Born on May 21, 1929, in Osaka, Japan, she was the daughter of the late Yu Furukawa and Kazuyoshi Furukawa.

 Misako is a World War II Survivor. She was born a few months prior to the Great Depression in Imperial Japan. Her father was a miner and life was economically challenging for the family. Japan experienced many hardships due to its many wars. After World War II started, her hometown of Osaka was bombed constantly, and the family moved to the countryside. Long lines and limited food rations were the norm for many years. She lost her oldest brother, and her sister was injured during the war. She helped her mother to raise her siblings and left school to work after the war. 

 She met my father after the war and married in 1955. He used to tell me that it was love at first sight and they remained together until his passing in 1998. 

 As a homemaker, she took great pride in her family and was the traditional supportive spouse of an US Air Force veteran who served in three wars – WWII, Korea and finally Vietnam. She ran the household for the many tours that her husband took overseas while raising a young child. This resulted in a very close-knit family and many fond family memories in both Japan and the United States.

 Leaving her country and family behind in 1970 to move to the United States, learn English and embrace a new culture was a challenge. Yet with her new “sisters” – Nancy, Florence and Helen – she persevered and succeeded. She was always complimented as one of the kindest person they’d ever met.

 In addition to her parents, Misako is preceded in death by her husband, Buck Allen, siblings, Nancy, Florence, Jack, James, Helen, and Joseph, as well as her brothers, Akira, Tadashi, and Katsuhiko Furukawa.

 Misako is survived by her son Rex Allen (Rhonda), her sister Kazuko Terao (Takeshi), Two grandchildren, David Allen (Moirrah Fickes), Jennifer Blair (Christopher), sister-in-law Okiko Furukawa, niece Yuko Furukawa, nephew Tsuyoshi (Hitomi) with his children Taiga and Anna Furukawa, nieces and nephews Bruce Gaylord, Bonnie Dean, Linda Ide-Way, Jace Allen, Kimberly Blozinski, Deborah Blozinski, Chester Allen, Todd Allen and Heidi Allen Wilkinson. Ayari Matsui (Kazunori), Risa Matsui, Hiroki Terao (Kanami), Sakura Terao, and Soma Terao.

 Expressions of sympathy may be viewed or submitted online at mcalister-smith.com/.

 Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to McAlister-Smith Funeral and Cremation, 347 Folly Rd, Charleston, SC 29412, (843) 614-8494.