Kiyoko (Kiyan) Johnson was born July 15, 1938 in Sunaabe, Okinawa, Japan. She was the 4th of 7 children to Chutaro and Kame (Chinen) Kiyan. On the evening of April 6, 2016, she slipped peacefully away to meet again with her husband who had preceded her.
Kiyoko survived the hardships of WWII during the battles of Okinawa, recalling hiding in caves, being hungry for days, and carrying one of her younger brothers on her back as they moved around looking for shelter and safety. She ended up working as a waitress in her 20's on Kadena Air Force Base, where she eventually met her husband, Henry Johnson, Jr. They married in 1963, and together with her 1st daughter, Mariko, built a new life together. She moved permanently to the United States in 1972 with her husband and their 2 children, Linda and Stanley. A few years later, she got a job with Starkist Tuna cannery in Terminal Island, CA, and when that closed, went to another cannery in Los Angeles.
Throughout the years, Kiyoko has made many friends from neighbors, to coworkers, to Bingo mates and so on. She loved gardening and had a green thumb for anything growing! She loved sharing the big, beautiful and delicious persimmons (kaki) that grew in abundance on the big tree in her backyard. She also enjoyed attending events her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren were involved in.
Kiyoko is survived by a younger sister Sumiko Goya (Eijin), daughters Mariko and Linda, son Stanley and daughter-in-law Debbie, Cruz, grandchildren in Japan- Nana, Yoshitatsu, Mika, Yutaro and Kenshou, grandchildren in the U.S.- Kenji, Alistair, Asia, Bradley, Koral and Jordan, great grandchildren Masuimi and Salem, and many nieces and nephews.
Viewing: Monday, April 18th 3-6p
Service: Tuesday, April 19th 1030am Luyben Dilday Family Chapel 5161 E Arbor Rd Long Beach, CA 90808 ...followed immediately by motorcade to Riverside National Cemetery Interment: 130pm 22495 Van Buren Riverside, CA
Luyben Dilday Mortuary (562) 425-6401
www.luybendilday.com
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