May Tsuyako Takemoto

A memorial service will occur Saturday, April 1, 2023 at 1:00 PM, Bateman Carroll Funeral Home, 520 W Powell Blvd, Gresham, OR 97030.

May was born May 17, 1922 in Gresham Oregon. Her parents, Yurino and Hayato Nishikawa, emigrated from Japan in the early 1900s.

She was one of four children. Frank, the eldest, Ruth, her younger sister, followed by Joe, the youngest. During May’s early years, her family farmed and lived along Columbia Blvd. in Portland. The children attended elementary school at Whitaker School in northeast Portland. May’s creativity and interest in design and sewing/tailoring, led her to Girl’s Polytechnic High School. Because of her motivation to excel in her academic studies and interest in math, she enrolled and graduated from Fort Vancouver High School.

Following the outbreak of World War II, in 1942, May and her family were interned, along with thousands of other American citizens of Japanese ancestry. She met Minoru (Min) Takemoto, at the Minidoka Internment Camp outside of Twin Falls, Idaho. They married before being released in 1945, while still in Minidoka.

After the end of the war, in 1945, Min and May moved to Twin Falls and found employment farming and food processing. Joann was born in June of 1948 and Steven joined the family in September of 1949. That same year, the Takemoto’s moved and purchased their first home in north Portland. Min started a landscaping business, which he would successfully own for over 50 years.

In 1952 Min and May took over the lease of the West Hotel, which May’s parents previously had operated. John was born in 1957. May managed the hotel until 1968, when their family moved to a home purchased in the Laurelhurst neighborhood in Northeast Portland.

In 1974, May embarked on a new career as a hairdresser. She started out at Magnum Opus Salon. Thereafter, she worked independently with many clients she thought fondly of as friends.

Minoru passed away in 2010 and May kept busy seeing close clients on a part time basis until she retired in 2014, at the age of 92. In retirement, May enjoyed relaxing and laughing with her family and loved ones.

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