Graycie Noriko Shishido

Graycie Noriko (Tomita) Shishido passed away on October 7, 2021, in Kaweah Health Medical Center from complications from pneumonia. Born in Hanford in 1924 to Masao Kuwana and Tokuzo Tomita, who emigrated together from Japan and tilled a farm in Hanford. She was the fourth of ten children and the last survivor of her generation. When World War II broke out during her senior year at Hanford High School, Graycie and her family were relocated to an internment camp in Jerome, Arkansas. It was there she met her future husband, Hiroshi Shishido. Towards the end of the war, she and her family were able to leave the camp by joining the war efforts or finding jobs in Mid-Western and Southern United States, places away from the Pacific Coast. Hiroshi and Graycie eventually married after the war and started a life together farming with her in-laws in Oregon, Oxnard, Gilroy, and Morgan Hill California. Leaving farming in 1964, they settled close to her sister Rose’s family in Lindsay, California, where they raised four children. In 1998, she finally received her High School Diploma. On November 8th, she would have celebrated her 97th birthday.

Graycie lived a full and content life until the last four years when her health started to decline. After enduring a minor stroke several years ago and more recently a pacemaker implantation, she remained determined to make a full recovery and enjoy life’s big moments with her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. She enjoyed gardening, cooking Asian cuisine taught by her mother in-law, and reading the sports pages cover to cover. She loved sharing her talents with her friends and loved ones.

Graycie was preceded in death by her husband Hiroshi. She is survived by son (Gerald) Bryan Shishido, son and daughter-in-law Ronald (Ron) & Valinda Shishido, as well as daughters and sons-in-law Sandra (Sandy) & Gary Raskie and Nancy & Frank Ferri. She also leaves behind five grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.

Services will be held at Miller Memorial Chapel on Sunday, October 24th at 2pm. Burial will occur on Monday, October 25th at 11 am at Lindsay-Strathmore Cemetery 639 S Foothill Ave., Lindsay, CA.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.millerchapel.com for the Shishido family.