Obituaries

Haruye Masada Yada

Photo of Haruye Masada Yada
Haruye Masada Yada passed away Thursday, September 11, 2014 at the age of 99. She was the last surviving Japanese American adult who transferred to Rohwer, Arkansas concentration camp for U.S. citizens of Japanese ancestry during WWII and who remained in Arkansas after the camps were closed. She was born in Biggs, California on June 1, 1915. Haruye was the second child of Masataro and Ayame Hontani Masada. She was preceded in death by her husband, Sam Yutaka Yada. She was also preceded in death by three siblings, brother, George Masao Masada, and sisters, Dorothy Masayo Masada Yamasaki and Clare Yoshiko Masada Yoshikawa. Haruye is survived by two sons, Robert (Sarah) Yada of Fort Smith, Ark. and Richard (Barbara) Yada of Little Rock. She delighted in her grandchildren, Greg (Kim) Yada, Susan Yada, Karen Yada, Kathy (David) Patton and Kay (David) Shields. Then, came seven great-grandchildren to love, Devon and Kara Yada, Emily and Joseph Mills, Shelby and Mary Agnes Shields and David Eric "Tripp" Patton, III. She is also survived by her dear sister-in-law, Sadami Yada Hamamoto. Haruye was happiest when her family was together and she could watch all the children playing and having fun. The Yadas' gathered on New Year's Day to celebrate with a Japanese feast. She wanted to make sure that her grandchildren and great-grandchildren experienced this part of their Japanese heritage. Haruye was a living history lesson. Her parent's were migrant farm workers and moved around often. The Masada's sent their children back to Japan to live with an aunt so they could get an education and not have to move to different schools. When Haruye was older, she and her siblings came back to the United States. After coming back to America, her aunt arranged for her to meet Sam Yutaka Yada. They were happily married for well over 50 years. During WWII the Japanese Americans were moved to concentration camps for citizens of Japanese ancestry. With their six year old son, Bob, the Yada family was interned in Rohwer, Arkansas. It was at Rohwer where their second son, Richard, was born. After the war, the Yada family lived in Scott, Arkansas where they were sharecroppers for Mrs. Virginia Alexander. They eventually had their own farm. In later years they converted to growing bedding plants and vegetable plants in their greenhouse and developed it into one of the largest greenhouse businesses in Arkansas. Visitation will be at Ruebel Funeral Home, 6313 W. Markham St., Little Rock, from 3 to 5 p.m. on Sunday afternoon, September 14, 2014. Interment will be private. The family wants to thank the nurses and staff of Stonehaven Assisted Living. Most recently, we want to thank the doctors, nurses and staff of Hospice Home Care for their loving care. Memorials may be made to Scott Connections, P.O. Box 214, Scott, Ark. 72142 or Japanese-American WWII Internment Camp Museum, 100 Railroad St., McGehee, Ark. 71654. Arrangements by Ruebel Funeral Home, www.ruebelfuneralhome.com.

Published September 13, 2014

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