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| "Kikkie" Mori |
Kikuye "Kikie" Emily Nomura, (Poston block 54-8-A) was born on October 20, 1920 in Brawley, California to Japanese immigrant farmers, Hisakichi William and Tsuchi Nomura. She was welcomed into the family by her older sister, Hisaye Dorothy and brother, Tatsuro William.
Following the bombing of Pearl Harbor, the Nomura family was evacuated from Calexico, California and transported to their new living quarters in the Arizona desert at the Poston internment camp block 54-8-A. At Poston camp I, Kikkie became the Assistant Block Manager in August of 1942. Her father, Hisakichi Nomura, was named to the Issei Advisory Board Works Project. On March 14, 1943, Kikkie married Sgt. Shinji Henry Miyata at Poston chapel 44. Sgt. Miyata was formerly from Imperial, and had enlisted in the Army in April 1941. Following the marriage, Kikkie transferred to Poston camp 2 to live. The Nomura family and Kikkie Miyata departed from Poston on September 8, 1945 and went to Downey, California. After the end of World War II, the Nomura family relocated to Santa Barbara, where Kikkie met Joe Itsuki Mori, a former Gila internee who served in the U.S. Army during the occupation and reconstruction of Japan. They were married in Santa Barbara and raised their two sons. Joe and his brother Frank Mori, established the Kata Shi Nursery in Goleta, California.
After retiring, Joe started a Japanese antique business. He voluntarily served on the board for the Meals on Wheels program for three years, while he and Kikkie volunteered for the program over 25 years. They were involved with the Bethany and the Free Methodist Churches.
Kikkie Mori, age 90 years, died on November 6, 2010 in Santa Barbara, California. She was preceded in death by her husband, Joe Itsuki Mori (2009); father, Hisakichi Nomura (1966); mother Tsuchi Nomura (1986); and brother Tatsuro William Nomura (1988).
She is survived by her sister, Dorothy Fujii; and sons, Forrest and Paul.
Sources: http://www.independent.com/obits/2010/nov/22/emily-mori/
http://www.independent.com/obits/2009/aug/10/joe-mori/
