Taka S Flippo

Taka Flippo, beloved mother and wife, passed away peacefully on Saturday, April 26, 2025, in Bossier City, Louisiana at the age of 94. A woman of remarkable creativity, warmth, and strength, she filled her home and the lives of others with beauty, comfort and joy.

Born on July 5, 1930, to parents Yoichi and Taki (Yamauchi) Shibahara in Tochigi, Japan, Taka dedicated her life to nurturing her family while sharing her many talents with all that knew her. She poured her heart into raising her children, always putting their needs first and created a home filled with love, laughter and the delicious aroma of home-cooked meals, especially her famous fried rice and “Royal Tokyo” hibachi-style dinners, which became cherished family traditions.

Her life changed forever one evening when she met Wayne at a dance on Tachikawa Air Force Base in Japan while Wayne was serving in the Korean war, a chance encounter that blossomed into lifelong love. They were married on September 11, 1953, and together built a family full of laughter and love. During their time in the military, Taka became a trailblazer and a source of support for others, joining a US Military Japanese wives community, creating a space where Japanese women could find connection, understanding and friendship far from home.

An artist in every sense of the word, Taka had a gifted touch, tending to her back yard “Garden of Eden”, expressing herself on canvas with a painter’s grace. She was also a talented hairdresser and seamstress, bringing out the inner and outer beauty in others with a pair of sheers or a needle and thread, always with a smile and a story to tell.

She used her hands not only to create, but to comfort. Taka had a way of making everyone feel loved, her generosity will be remembered always.

In her later years, Taka found joy and laughter in playing bean bag baseball with friends, embracing each day with a playful spirit and the same warmth that had always defined her while bringing her creativity to festive celebrations - winning first place in the 2025 Mardi Gras wheelchair float competition at the Bloom Assisted Living facility.

Taka is preceded in death by her husband of 66 years; Wayne Flippo, parents; Yoichi and Taki Shibahara, and her son in law, PJ Rocks. She is survived by her 3 children, Michael Flippo (Donna), Joey Flippo (Becky) and Linda Rocks. 11 grandchildren; Aaron Flippo, Allison NcNaughton, Jessica Stephenson, Melissa Dingler, Jennifer Duvall, Emily Falanga, Mallory Cooper, Sara Oberlander, Melanie Self, Warren Rocks and Coltin Rocks. 15 great-grandchildren, her sister Hiroko Shibahara and many Japanese nieces and nephews.

Services celebrating the life of Taka will be held at 2pm on Friday, May 2, 2025, at Hill Crest Memorial Chapel with visitation at 1 pm prior to the service.

The family would like to thank the caregivers of Taka; Regina, Yvette and Roz and the staff at The Bloom at Bossier.

In lieu of flowers, the family invites you to honor Taka’s memory by donating to St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital, stjude.org, planting something beautiful, cooking a favorite meal or celebrating a moment, just like she did every day.