Toshi Terayama
December 11, 1928 - March 1, 2011
Obituary
Toshi ‘Teri’ TERAYAMA
Toshi Teryama transcended the joy and suffering of this world on March 1, 2011. Born Toshi Matsumura in Wapato, WA on December 11, 1928, she was one of ten siblings accustomed to hard work and devotion to their family.
Toshi, or Teri as many knew her, grew up on a prosperous farm that was well known throughout the Yakima Valley. She was the daughter of Buntaro and Juye Matsumura, immigrants from Japan in the early 1900s. Toshi was very much the tomboy — very active and athletic — playing practical jokes on her brothers and sisters. As the youngest -daughter, Toshi was coddled and protected by her family, but that didn’t exempt her from ¬chores and the expectations of a stern father.
The Matsumura family was held in the Heart Mountain Internment Camp for much of WW II. They returned to the family farm after the war, where she worked and completed high school. She left Wapato after high school graduation, attending Edison Technical School later Seattle Community College and the University of Washington in Seattle. In those post-high school years she lived with the Murakami family who owned the Higo Five and Dime Store in the International District.
Her friends from camp, the Yakima Valley, and friends in Seattle remained cherished and close throughout her life.
Toshi met and married Kazuo ‘Kayo’ Terayama in Seattle in 1951. Hard work continued to be the hallmark of their married life, working a strawberry farm in the Kent Valley. Their daughter, Karen Joy Terayama, was born in 1955 and remembers the farming life and her parents’ diligent work. In the early 1960s, their farm lease expired and Kayo’s Landscaping was born. Toshi designed all their projects. Those projects can still be recognized in many of the Meridian Valley Country Club home yards.
After retirement, Toshi stayed active in her own yard¬. She golfed with her friends whenever possible, and she enjoyed sports on TV. She retained a phenomenal memory for players’ names and stats. Her very large extended family continued to be important to her, and she would scold us now if she knew we didn’t mention every single one of them here.
Surviving are her husband of 60 years, Kayo, and daughter Karen Tom Little and her sister, Fumi Matsumoto of Chicago, IL. Numerous nieces, nephews, and their children remain.
Toshi was predeceased by eight siblings: eldest brother Mamoru; brother Kiyoshi; sister Suzue; sister Sakae; brother Hiroshi; brother Kaoru; brother George; youngest brother Rei.
A service and reception will be 10:30 a.m. March 7 at the Bonney Watson Washington Memorial Park, 16445 International Blvd, Seatac, WA 98188-3153. In lieu of flowers, donations are encouraged to Highline Medical Center Foundation, 16259 Sylvester Rd -SW, Suite 101, Burien, WA 98166 or Heart Mountain Wyoming Foundation, P.O. Box 77 Sonoma, CA 95476-0077.
I’m so sorry to hear about “Teri” passing away! I spent a few summers working on Kayo and Teri’s strawberry field in Kent after school high school, and they aided in my buying my first car by letting me work for them however many hours I needed. I remember spending many hours working with Teri, and how hard it was to try and keep up with her. She would always outwork me no matter how hard I tried. To this day I wonder how she did it? Kayo and Teri were the best bosses I’ve ever had and taught me working hard for something pays off. At that time for me it was my own car 1955 Ford Crown Vic that I could drive to school! Kayo and Karen, I still have great memories of working on the farm and feel I have excellent work habits to this day because of Teri’s work ethics and also Kayo’s trust and training in letting me run their farm equipment! I’m really sorry about Teri, she always seemed to me like she was invincible! Our whole family is so sorry for your loss.
Dear Kayo and family.
That was such sad news to hear of your beloved wife, Toshi’s, passing and Zen and I wish to extend our warm sympathy.
I really used to enjoy talking to Toshi when I did see her at some of the fund raisers at the church during those earlier years.She always greeted me warmly and it was fun chatting with her about some of things happening in our lives. She will be missed by all.
We probably will be unable to make it to the memorial service. Eiko
Kayo,
Our condolences and sympathy in this time of your loss. Bless you and keep you and your family.
Les & Marlene
Teri and Kayo worked on our beautiful landscaping in 1985 in Kent and to this day all the beautiful plants and shrubs survive. They were fun to work with and my husband who has now passed away and I shared lots of laughter and happiness with them and we enjoyed our home for many years. Blessings to the family and Kayo. Liz Rick Day