Patsy was born in Seattle, WA on May 30, 1928 to Japanese immigrant parents (Issei), Heizo & Ei Hidaka. The family owned and operated Jackson Furniture in Seattle's International District and resided in the Central area until WWII hysteria resulted in the incarceration of 110,000+ West Coast Japanese and Japanese-Americans. The family could only pack what they could carry before being transported to Camp Harmony (Puyallup Fairgrounds), then spent the remainder of the war detained at Minidoka, ID. Patsy attended Hunt High School in Minidoka for three years. The family relocated to Spokane after the war, before returning to Seattle and reopening Jackson Furniture. Patsy graduated from Garfield High School in 1946, then worked as Dental Assistant at Dr. Fukuda's office above Higo Variety Store.
Known for her wry, sarcastic sense of humor, Patsy married George Tanagi in a ceremony at Grace Methodist Church in Mt. Baker on February 20, 1955. As she put it, "We were the only two left from our group of friends." The newlyweds settled into a duplex behind Mutual Fish, and had their first child before moving to the Rainier Beach area. While raising her three children, Patsy worked nights as hostess at Bush Garden, then bookkeeper at City Produce until retirement. She enjoyed bowling, playing cards, and socializing with friends and family. Later in life, she liked watching local sports teams (Sonics/Mariners/Seahawks), along with frequent visits to Imperial Bingo, Longacres/Emerald Downs, and Muckleshoot Casino.
She was the final surviving member of the Heizo & Ei Hidaka family, preceded in death by Frank (Teresa), Dr. Harry (Suki/Hazeldell), Amy (George Omatsu), Tom (Rachel), and Mary. Husband George passed away in 1999, but survived by their children, Page (Sharon), Patty (Howie), Matt (Debbie), granddaughter Mika, and a large number of loving nephews and nieces. She will be greatly missed by all who knew her.
The family would like to thank the Keiro Northwest staff, along with the staff at Swedish Hospital, The Polyclinic, and her home caregiver Jeanny, for providing such excellent care and friendship in making her life easier and longer these past few years.
Per her final wishes, no memorial service will be will held. Remembrances can be made to Keiro Northwest or your favorite charity.
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