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| Kimi Tazoi |
Kimiko Doris Yagi (Poston block 227) was born on June 27, 1922 in Kerman, California. She was the second child born to the Japanese immigrants, Kazutoshi
and Kameko (Wakimoto) Yagi.
After
the outbreak of WWII, the Yagi family: Kazutoshi,
Kameko, Nobutoshi, Kimi, Takako, and Cassie Mae were evacuated from Lindsay,
California to the Poston, Arizona concentration camp block 227 on July 16,
1942.
Kazutoshi
became a member of the Poston Red Cross.
His son, Nobutoshi "Bush" served on the committee for the 1942 Mass Choir Festival committee.
On January 16, 1944 Nobutoshi left the Poston concentration camp to work in agriculture in Corrine,
Utah and to seek housing for his family so that they could leave Poston.
At
Poston, Kimi played table tennis, participated on the committee for the 1943
New Year Festival Committee, and the refreshment committee for the Valentine's Day
singspiration. Kimi was selected by the Poston Chronicle newspaper to the 1943 Girls "A" All Star Basketball 2nd team- guard; and she
served as the Youth Fellowship secretary.
In
November of 1942 the Poston school kids were asked to help harvest
cotton in the local area due to a labor shortage. Takako picked 26 pounds of cotton, noted in
the Poston Chronicle newspaper. She served as chairman of the Teensters Club,
and on the games committee for the Sophomore Christmas Party. Takako played table tennis, and was a pitcher for
the Bomberettes softball team. She was selected co-editor of the Campus Log newspaper,
and co-editor of the first yearbook for Poston 2 High "School in 1943. Takako graduated from Poston 2 High School in
June of 1943. She left the Poston concentration camp in
September of 1943 to attend Muskingum College in New Concord, Ohio, where her
name later appeared on the school's honor roll.
In January of 1943, Cassie Mae was selected
as the freshman class yell leader, and she was nominated as a candidate for the Future Farmers of America (F.F.A.) Winter Gathering Queen contest.
On
March 17, 1944, Kimi, her parents, and
sister Cassie Mae finally left the Poston, Arizona concentration camp and joined Nobutoshi in Corrine, Utah. Kimi was hired at Brigham
Apparel, where she later met Jim Yoshio Tazoi, a native to Utah and her future
husband.
Pfc. Jim Yoshio Tazoi enlisted in the Army 1941, and served with the 442nd
RCT 3rd Battalion, Company K as a radio man in France and Italy. He received
the Distinguished Service Cross Medal, Bronze Star Medal, Purple Heart, Oak
Leaf Cluster, and the Crest of Valor from the Italian government. After the end
of the war, Jim returned to his home in Utah, and met Kimi Yagi.
Several
years later, Kimi and Jim Tazoi were married on January 15, 1948. They raised three
sons, who helped work on the family farm, which produced "bleached celery",
sugar beets, onions, hay, and various grains.
In
1955, Kameko Yagi finally became a naturalized citizen. Through the years, Kimi won many Home Arts awards and
ribbons at the local county fair and the Utah State Fair. She enjoyed quilting,
sewing, canning, and cooking.
Kimi
Tazoi, resident of Garland, Utah, died on July 7, 2012 at the age of 90 years. She was preceded in death by her parents,
Kazutochi (1955), and Kameko Yagi (1986); husband, Jim Yoshio (2007); brother
Nobutoshi Hayano “Hank” (1982); sister Takako “Taki” Minamide (2009); sons, Lt.
Col. Douglas (1997) and Donald Y. Tazoi (2004).
She
is survived by sister, Cassie Mae (Bob) Endo of Torrance, CA; son, Edwin J. Tazoi of Taylorsville, UT; and grandchildren,
“Kate” (Doug) Bartlett, of Plymouth, MA, Emilee Tazoi, of Brigham City, UT, J.D.
(Nicole) Tazoi, of Sandy, UT, Jordan E. Tazoi, of Sandy, UT; and great-grandchildren,
Hunter Iverson, or Brigham City, UT, and Finn Bartlett, of Plymouth, MA.
Source:
http://www.meaningfulfunerals.net/fh/obituaries/obituary.cfm?o_id=1529639&fh_id=11779
