Lois Yukiko Morimoto, 97, passed away peacefully on May 11, 2018. Born in Stockton to Eijiro & Michiko Utsumi, she leaves behind daughters Joanne Malone (Steve), Janet Morimoto (Greg Terra), son David Morimoto (Janet), sister Nell Noguchi, four granddaughters and three great-grandsons. Predeceased by husband Albert, and three siblings, Takeo Utsumi, June Morimoto & Sumi Akiyama, she began life in Stockton’s Japantown where her parents owned a small business. She attended school in Stockton and graduated from the old Stockton High School. Marriage in 1942 took her to a farm in the small agricultural community of Cortez, near Turlock, where the ‘city girl’ adjusted to a different life but grew to become an active member of the community. World War II forced the family into an internment camp in Amache, Colorado where they endured life until 1945. Joanne was born in Amache. After returning to their battered farm, they rebuilt it through sheer determination and hard work. Soon Janet and David joined the family which also included Albert’s parents.
In 1977, they sold the farm and retired to Turlock, enjoying a new home, traveling, and the luxury of not having to worry about the challenges of farming. After Albert’s passing in 1992, Lois lived another thirteen years in Turlock before moving into the retirement community of O’Connor Woods in Stockton. There she made many new friends, played bridge, and enjoyed a carefree life. Twelve years later she made her last move to an assisted living facility in Lodi.
Lois’ journey in life took her full circle, starting and ending in the Stockton area. Like many of her generation, she believed in the core values of family, faith, hard work and community. Her close-knit family is her legacy as the values she and Albert possessed will be forever engraved in their lives.
A private memorial service for the family will be held in June.