George Murakami

Obituary George Murakami George Murakami passed away peacefully at home on January 29, 2013 from complications associated with lung cancer. George was born on March 8, 1922 in Auburn, WA to Moritsuchi Murakami and Yoshi (Morimoto) Murakami. His family farmed and moved many times in the Auburn area during his lifetime. After attending Sumner High School, he graduated in 1941. At the outbreak of World War II, George and his family were relocated with other Japanese Americans to the Puyallup Assembly Center. He was later interned in Minadoka, ID. In 1944 he was drafted into the army and served in the 2nd replacement of the 442nd Regimental Combat Team. During that time George was stationed on the German-French border and in Italy where he received a purple heart. After the war, he went to chick sexing school on the GI Bill in Landsdale, PN. It was through this line of work that he met Kaoru "Cora" Tokunaga. They were married in December of 1948. Their seasonal work had them traveling to the Midwest and Southern parts of the United States. Eventually they returned to WA to continue their work at a Puyallup chicken hatchery. After a number of years, George retired from chick sexing and started gardening. He landscaped and mowed lawns. On the side he had a berry farm with raspberries and blackberries. George and Cora retired and moved to Tacoma Washington. Even after he finished working, his love of gardening continued and he grew vegetables to give to friends and relatives. Among other passions, he also enjoyed recycling and attending Tacoma Buddhist Temple, which was always a priority in his life. George was proud of his two grandchildren Laurel and Grant and all of their accomplishments. He is survived by his wife of 64 years Cora of Tacoma, daughter Lois Saito (Jeff) (Ontario, OR.), grandchildren Laurel (Tacoma) and Grant (Boise, ID) and siblings Hinako Dogen (Seattle), Isoko Yoshihara (Seattle), Sueko Fujikado (Seattle), Ken (Yoshiko) Murakami (Palatine, IL) and Washin (Kathleen) Murakami (Seattle). George was preceded in death by his parents Moritsuchi Murakami and Yoshi (Morimoto) Murakami, daughter Pamela Jean and siblings Shigeru Murakami, Chiseko Nagaishi, Mistuko Otani, Ben Murakami and Yoshio Murakami. The family would like to acknowledge the compassionate and endless support of Ron and Karen Murakami and Joe and Nancy Schneider. George will be greatly missed by his family and friends. A viewing will be held on Friday, February 1, 2013 from 3-6:00 pm at Gaffney Funeral Home Chapel, Tacoma, WA. A Memorial Service will be held at the Tacoma Buddhist Temple, 1717 S. Fawcett Ave in Tacoma on Sunday, February 3, 2013 at 2:00 pm. Interment at Mountain View Cemetery, Auburn, WA. Please leave online condolences at www.gaffneycares.com. Arrangements by Gaffney Funeral Home, 253-572-6003. A Life Celebration® Home.