Mary Harumi Takagi died peacefully in her sleep on Sunday, March 3, 2013. She recently celebrated her 93rd birthday with family and friends.
Mary was born in Brawley, California. In 1942, Mary along with thousands of other Japanese Americans was forced to relocate. Mary and her family were sent to Heart Mountain Relocation Center near Cody, Wyoming. There, she met Alpha Takagi.
Mary and Alpha were married in 1944. She resumed her interrupted nursing education and received her nursing degree soon after the birth of the first of four children. Mary worked part-time with public health agencies, hospitals, and nursing facilities while caring for her growing family.
Mary was an active partner in Alpha's ministry in the United Methodist Church, beginning with his first appointment in Tacoma, Washington. They subsequently served congregations in Santa Maria, Dinuba, Palo Alto, Gardena, and Bakersfield, California. During their marriage of nearly 70 years, they were blessed by many cherished friendships.
She is survived by her husband, Alpha, sons Paul and James (Glenn), daughters Joyce Yoshimura (Michael) and Naomi Yamagata (Nelson), grandchildren Jason and Kimberly Takagi, Jonah and Tyrus Yamagata, Gwen and Emi Yoshimura (Shoji Kameda) and great-granddaughter Izumi Lynn Kameda. She was preceded in death by her daughter-in-law, Doretta Takagi. Mary is survived by brothers Frank Tokeshi, Robert Tokeshi and sister Kay Tokeshi and was preceded in death by sister, Tomi Tokushige, and brother, Minoru Tokeshi.
A local memorial service will be held at the San Luis Obispo United Methodist Church Saturday, April 13, 2013 at 1PM. There will also be a memorial celebration for family and friends in southern California at the Centenary United Methodist Church in Los Angeles on April 6, 2013 at 11AM. Interment will be at Rose Hills Memorial Park in Whittier, California.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to a favorite charitable organization.