Lily Yuriko Takatsuka

Lily was preceded in death by her parents, Seizaburo and Sawayo Mukai, her sister, Mariko, her brothers, George, Frank, and Henry, and her husband Bobby. Lily is survived by her son, James (Karen) daughter, Janice Pelo (Don) and her grandchildren, Julia, Mark, Lauren and Mitch.

Lily was born in Seattle WA in 1923 to Japanese immigrant parents. She and her siblings helped run their father’s movie theaters, hotel, and fishing tackle shop. After Pearl Harbor was attacked, her family moved to Moses Lake to avoid mandatory relocation. Lily was forced to leave Garfield High School and finished her senior year in Moses Lake, graduating in 1942. After spending 3 years in New York with her sister, Lily returned to Seattle. Lily went on the get her education degree from the University of Washington in 1950. She was the second Japanese teacher to be hired by the Seattle Public Schools where she taught second and third grade at Madrona School. Lily met her husband to be Bobby Takatsuka at a party and they married on July 12, 1953.

Lily enjoyed arts and crafts and loved swimming every morning. She taught English as a second language to Japanese senior citizens. She volunteered at the UW Herbarium, Seattle Art Museum, and the Seattle Public Library.

Lily will be missed dearly by her family and friends. Donations in memory of Lily may be made to: University of Washington, c/o University of Washington Botanic Gardens, Otis Douglas Hyde Herbarium, Box 354115, Seattle, WA 98195-4115 or at botanicgardens.uw.edu/about/give

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.Evergreen-Washelli.com for the Takatsuka family.