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Shigeko Patricia Pat Sugiura
Mar 14, 1926 Jan 24, 2018
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Shigeko “Pat” Sugiura passed away peacefully on Wednesday, January 24, in her hospital bed, surrounded by her loving family. She was 91 years old. 

Pat was born in Isleton, California but spent most of her younger years in Cortez.  She attended Ballico Elementary School and Livingston High School until her family was relocated to Amache, Colorado during World War II.  After the war ended, they returned to Cortez where Pat lived for the rest of her life.  

Pat married Tsutomu “Toot” Sugiura on March 12, 1949.  They had a daughter, Gail in July 1950 and twin boys, Edward and Ted in August 1954.  After her children started school, Pat found work at Cortez Growers’ Association.  She was also employed by Winton Ireland Strom & Green in Livingston and Turlock, where she worked for 33 years until FINALLY deciding to retire at the age of 83.

Pat loved to crochet, knit, and sew.  She hardly ever purchased any clothes and was always making her own.  While her family was growing up, she was famous for her grilled weenies and rice balls at Turlock Lake where the “Cortez families” went water skiing in the summer every weekend for years.

Pat’s contagious smile and warm heart will be greatly missed and we will especially miss hearing her shout, “Oh, for Pete’s sake!”

Pat is preceded in death by her brother, Aki Shiotani; her parents, Tominosuke and Chiyoko Shiotani; and her husband, Toot Sugiura.  She is survived by her sister, Chic Hoy of San Francisco; daughter, Gail and son-in-law, Larry; and two sons, Ted and Edward.  She is also survived by her grandchildren, Tara, Ted Jr. and wife Kayla, Aurielle, Larry IV and wife Marissa; three great-grandchildren Brody, Beckham, and Avery; and various other relatives too numerous to mention but still very important.

A viewing for Pat will be held from 5 to 8 p.m. on Friday, February 2, followed by a celebration of Pat’s life at 1 p.m. on Saturday, February 3. Both services will be held at the Turlock Funeral Home, 425 N. Soderquist Rd., Turlock.