Mrs. Cynthia Wai Kin Chun Saiki

A memorial service for Cynthia Wai Kin Saiki, 74, of Killeen, will be held at 2:00 PM on Saturday, February 22, 2014 at Crawford-Bowers Funeral Home in Killeen. A reception will follow at St. Andrews United Methodist Church. A memorial service and interment will be held at a later date in March in Hawaii.

Mrs. Saiki died February 15, 2014 at her residence. She was born July 13, 1939 in Honolulu, Hawaii to Ethel S.D. Chun and Wallace Bo Wah Chun.

Mrs. Saiki graduated from Roosevelt High School in Honolulu, Hawaii in 1957. She earned her Bachelor degree in Education from the University of Hawaii in 1961, followed by her Masters degree in Home Economics in 1962 from the University of Hawaii. She taught at McKinley and Waipahu High Schools before marrying her high school sweetheart, Owen H. Saiki, on June 24,1962 at the First Chinese Church of Christ in Hawaii. She travelled throughout the world and the United States as a proud Army wife and mother of four until settling with her family in Killeen, Texas, in 1978.

She was a gifted seamstress, talented artist, and a very skilled home chef. As an animal lover, she enjoyed taking in and caring for stray animals as well as the menagerie of pets her children always brought home. She was an avid sports fan and enjoyed watching her children and grandchildren participate in softball, baseball, volleyball, track, football, tennis, soccer, and ice hockey.

She was a devoted Eagles fan to her children’s alma mater, Ellison High School in Killeen, Texas, and also a steadfast and faithful Roosevelt High School Rough Riders alumna. At the December 2013 Roosevelt High School Class of ’57 Women’s Christmas luncheon, Kina wept with pride and sentiment during the singing of her high school alma mater.

She enjoyed babysitting and caring for children in her home until joining the Killeen Independent School District in 1982. She was the lunchroom secretary at Marlboro Elementary, Student Activities secretary and Assistant Principal secretary at Ellison High School, Counselor secretary at Nolan Middle School, and Records secretary at Meadows Elementary School. After 17 years in KISD, she retired to spend more time travelling with her family and spoiling her 7 grandchildren and her 2 great-grandchildren.

Mrs. Saiki is preceeded in death by her father, Wallace Bo Wah Chun of Honolulu, and her son-in-law, Russell F. Overheu of Austin, Texas.

Survivors include her mother, Ethel S.D.Chun of Honolulu; husband, Owen Hidetaka Saiki; brother, Stephen K. H. (Candace Wilkins) Chun of California; two nieces, Lindsey and Sasha Chun; daughters, Mrs. Martin (Shellie Mei) Campos and Mrs. Timothy (Stephanie Li-Ann) Young both of Harker Heights, Texas; Mrs. Russell (Stacie Linn) Overheu of Austin, Texas; and son, Mr. Scott (Sylvia Guerrero) Saiki of Killeen, Texas; seven grandchildren: Brandon Anthony Campos, Mrs. John (Brittany Marie) Leach, Zachary Michael Young, Jacob Scott Young, Daniel Christopher Young, Sarah Alexis Saiki, Steven Bo Saiki, and two great-grandchildren, MeiLinn Li-Ann and Mai-Lee Ann Campos-Leach.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the American Heart Association.