Amyko Yasui

Amy passed away early in the morning of Jan 4, 2022 due to breathing issues after a long bout with dementia.

Amy was born on August 21, 1923 as Emiko Nigo in Wauna, Oregon. Her father was Takeshi Nigo, her mother was Yoshiko Nigo Nigo, and she had a brother Junichi who was 3 years younger. Her father worked in a sawmill in Wauna. When she was 4 or 5 years old, her parents sent her to Okayama-ken, Japan to be raised by her aunt Chizuru Konda. She finished high school in Japan. She returned to Oregon in 1941 to be with her mother who was dying of cancer. However, she was delayed by immigration in Seattle, and her mother died just one day before Amy arrived.

During the war years, the Nigo family was sent to Minidoka Internment Camp in Idaho. Amy worked as a server in the dining hall. She met her future husband, Frank Yasui, at Minidoka. They were married on November 10, 1945 in Ontario, Oregon in the Methodist church. It was a snowy, cold day, and she remembers the car sliding around dangerously as they drove to the church. Their best man was Danny Hinatsu, a good and dear friend for life. Their happy marriage lasted 72 years until Frank’s death in 2017.

Frank and Amy had two children, Sharon (1947) and Roger (1950). They would eventually have 4 grandchildren (two sets of twins), and 4 great grandchildren. Amy was never one to sit around or sit still. She worked in family run hotels, the Merchant Hotel and then The Temple Hotel, both in downtown Portland. For a short time she was a seamstress at Jantzen Knitting Mills. She began work for the USPS (post office) in 1963 and remained there until 1990. She loved that job the most and actually did not want to retire from it. She worked at branches as well as at the main hub. She worked days or evenings and liked any time slot. She never learned to drive, so Frank was her patient and ever loyal chauffeur for her entire life, taking her to work at all hours, taking her shopping, visiting friends, doing chores, and going on trips.

Her favorite pastime was bargain hunting. She probably should have gone on The Price is Right. She enjoyed gambling at casinos although only with nickels and dimes. She was a fantastic cook, always making delicious Japanese dishes for the family. For a while she crocheted and embroidered, but her eyesight problems prevented her from continuing that hobby. She was a member of Veleda Club in its early years, a member of Seicho no Ie for many years, and a member of Nichiren Temple for most of her
life.

Amy loved her family and frequently bought them treats and gifts to make them smile. When she lived at Russellville Park Senior Living, she was constantly on the move getting to know people and handing them tasty goodies. Her final years were spent in assisted living and adult care facilities due to dementia. Even though her dementia caused her to have strange visions, they frequently involved seeing happy children in the room with her.

Amy is survived by son Roger Yasui (Carolyn), daughter Sharon Carrell, grandchildren Ryan Yasui (Noel), Jennifer Carrell, and Janice Yasui, and great grandchildren Kaiya, Brooke, Quinn, and Everly. She will be missed by friends and family.

At Amy’s request, there will be no funeral services.