Yoshie Kamei Hale

Yoshie Kamei Hale was called to Heaven on March 16, 2022, in Seal Beach, California, in the comfort of her children. A visitation will be held at Westminster Memorial Park Mortuary on Wednesday, April 6, 2022, from 4:00-8:00 PM the Carolina Chapel. A memorial service will take place on Thursday, April 7, 2022, at 2:30 PM in the Main Chapel. Reception to follow at On the Greens Catering and Conference Center

Yoshie was born on April 6, 1930, to Ichisaburo Joe and Toi (Matsumoto) Kamei in Napoopoo, Kona, Hawaii. She grew up during the Depression and World War II, both experiences tempered by the love and support of her parents and family. After graduating from McKinley High School in Honolulu in 1948, she began her professional life at Navy Base Pearl Harbor. It was there she met a young seaman, Russell Hale, whom she married on April 7, 1951, and they were married 41 years until his death in May 1992.

Highlights of Yoshie’s government service include secretarial and clerk positions at Pacific Fleet Headquarters in Honolulu, and various offices at Miramar San Diego and Long Beach Naval Shipyard. She reached the pinnacle of her 30 year career as a highly respected Hearing Analyst in the Social Security Administration, reviewing appellant cases and drafting opinions and decisions for her division’s Administrative Law Judges. She retired with full pension and honors in April 1985.

Yoshie’s storytelling, quick wit, and good humor were legend in her family. Though not always well-received nor appreciated at the time when she felt the need for correcting an attitude or behavior, her fierce and abiding love was never in question. Sessions at the dining table to “talk story” imparted her lifelong beliefs in God, family, respect for elders, honesty, and courage to be undaunted in the pursuit of goals.

Yoshie is survived by her six children: Lynn Tomaka, Alan Hale, Robert Hale, Jean Dougherty, Deena Hudson, and Jo Falzon; and three of her siblings: Larry Takashi Kamei, Jane Mitsuru Kunitomo, and Millicent Nobie Tanoue. She was blessed with and loved her grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and great-great grandchildren.

Yoshie is predeceased by her husband, Russell Hale; her mother and father; brother Tsunao; sisters, Kimie Kay Masuda, Tsugie Ti Kagawa, and Fukue Betty Shiraki; and her best friend for many years, Virginia Lyons.

In lieu of flowers the Hale family is requesting donations be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital (https://www.stjude.org/)

Yoshie’s family wishes to thank and express their appreciation to all of Yoshie’s family and friends who have been of great comfort and assistance during this time of bereavement.