Chiyoko Tate

Chiyoko Tate, 89, passed peacefully on July 1, 2023, at her Clearbrook Inn home in Silverdale, WA. Chiyoko was born in Tokyo Japan on September 7, 1933, to parents Takeichi and Masako Tachizawa. She was raised in Japan until she met the love of her life, Kenneth Tate, a U.S. Navy Sailor in 1951. They married in Japan in 1954, and moved to the United States where she became a dedicated military wife, mother, and beautician who volunteered her time to charitable causes. In 1959 she became a naturalized U.S. citizen.

As a young mother, Chiyoko was very involved in her children’s lives, schools and scouting. She enjoyed participation in the American Red Cross, the Officer’s Wives Association, golfing, bowling, and sewing.

During her 68 year marriage to Ken, she lived in six U.S. states and the Philippines. Active throughout retirement, she travelled the world (including Europe, Japan, Russia, China, the Middle East, and Polynesian Islands), enjoyed camping trips with friends and family, and always kept in touch with her family back home in Japan having visited there as recently as 2017.

Chiyoko is remembered for her adventurous spirit, positive approach to life, and her sunny smile. She loved to spend time with her friends, sharing her hospitality, Japanese cooking and hand-crafted greeting cards. Joyful, giving, and creative, friend to many, she will be missed by all. She cherished her ‘sisters’ from Beta Sigma Phi, an international women’s sorority, and friends from the Birthday Club and her Bible Study Group. Chiyoko embraced her Christian faith to the fullest and placed her trust in God.

Chiyoko was preceded in death by her husband, parents and sister Sachiko Tachizawa. She is survived by her children, Stanley, Jennifer (Carl Neuman), and Timothy; grandchildren Jason (Andrea Jai) Tate, Savannah Tate, Cody Tate, and Kira Neuman; great grandchildren Kira and Nalani; sisters Fukiko (Katsumi) Yamamoto and Katsuko Ookatsu; brother Kiyoshi (Sachiko) Tachizawa; sisters-in-laws, Jean Lillieqvest and Loretta Richmond; and numerous nieces and nephews.

All are welcome to attend her Celebration of Life on July 29, 11:00 am at Miller-Woodlawn Funeral Home in Bremerton. A reception luncheon will follow the service. Chiyoko’s ashes will be placed with her husband, Ken, at Tahoma National Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be given in honor of Chiyoko Tate to Salvation Army Bremerton, PO Box 886, Bremerton, WA 98337.