Miye Margaret Oku

December 23, 1920 - November 19, 2012

Miye Margaret Yamazaki was born at home, on Fedora Street in Uptown, in Los Angeles on Dec. 23, 1920 to Haruko and Goichi Yamazaki. Her birth was attended by, local mid-wife, Mrs. Nishimura. Miye and her siblings - Kazuko, Hiro and Yuri - grew up in the neighborhood where their father had a local shoe store and their mother taught at the Dai ni Gakkuen. As a young woman, she took dance lessons at the Marge and Gower Champion Studio. After her high school graduation, she attended Los Angeles Junior College and graduated two years later. After JC she attended Frank Wiggins School of Cosmetology and received her license to practice Hair Care and Design. In 1942, Miye met the love of her life, Shiro Oku. After WWII began the Yamazaki family was relocated to Manzanar and Shiro's to Heart Mountain in Wyoming. Soon after, Shiro left the camp and found employment in Denver where he wrote to propose to Miye and she bravely travelled alone by train to meet him. They were married on March 21, 1943.
When World War II ended, Miye and Shiro returned to Los Angeles with their son William Alan and soon there were two more children, Cheryl Ann and Kendal Robert. Miye devoted her life to raising her family and creating a lovely home. She cherished her family and friends and all of their children – and they enjoyed many picnics, parties, camping trips and outings together. At St. Mary's Episcopal Church, Miye was active in the Archerettes, and later in the Altar Guild, the GFS and the Annual Bazaar. She appreciated beauty and good taste in every aspect of her life from cooking and decorating to practicing Bonsai, Ikebana and Gardening. Shiro passed away in 1988 and William Alan passed away in 1995.
In 2003, Miye moved to her second home in Dillon Beach CA, enjoying a simpler life in the serenity and natural beauty of the hills, ocean, wildlife and many beautiful sunsets in Marin County. In 2007, Miye moved to The Redwoods, a community of seniors in Mill Valley, CA, where she made many new friends and enjoyed the opportunity to spend time in a lovely setting on Richardson Bay and participated in the many activities, such as ceramics, jewelry making, and oral history.
Last January, after a fall where she broke her arm, her health and abilities declined rapidly and her family moved her to a residential home - Terra Linda Christian Homes -where could she receive more care and support. On Nov. 12, her health suddenly declined again and she entered hospice. Miye passed away peacefully on the morning of November 19, 2012. She is survived by her daughter Cheryl Ann and husband David, son Kendal Robert and wife Patty, grandchildren Alisha Miyeko and husband Chris, Ryan Kiyoshi and wife Elizabeth and Hana Isabel, great-grandchildren Lillian Grace and Ruby Mae, her sister Yuri and Hideo Matsunaga, sister-in laws Amy Matsumoto, Alice Yamazaki and many beloved Nieces, Nephews and God Children.

Private memorial services will be held at Green Hills Memorial Park in Palos Verdes. Miyes family requests you make a donation to your favorite charity in lieu of Flowers or Koden.


Funeral Home:
Green Hills Mortuary and Memorial Chapel
27501 S.Western Ave.
Rancho Palos Verdes, CA
US 90275