Matsuye Dorothy Matsumoto

Matsuye Dorothy Matsumoto was born on September 14, 1911 in Fresno, California and was the daughter of Matsutaro Matsumoto and Sumiye Uragami. She was raised and schooled in the central valley and through the selling of chickens by her mother, she and her sister Sumiko were sent to study at The University of California at Berkeley. Sumiko went on to study and became a doctor and Dorothy studied and became a Registered Nurse.

During World War II, Dorothy and other members of her family were detained and sent to an internment camp in Poston, Arizona where they remained for more than two years. Rather than return to California from where they had been detained, the family instead moved to Denver, Colorado and together opened up a thriving beauty salon. Dorothy became a licensed beautician. Upon the adoption of Shigemi and wanting her to be raised in a warmer climate, the family relocated back to California and bought property in Reseda in 1951. She remained in her home ever since and until her passing.

The family purchased The Angel Beauty Salon and Dorothy worked there until the business was retired. Being a devout Christian, she made multiple visits each day to those who needed comfort and support. She attended two Christian churches simultaneously; one of which was a Japanese church. In the mid 70’s, her mother had a major stroke and became totally paralyzed. Dorothy took charge and for a period of four years, she did everything a nurse would do, until her mother passed away at the age of 97. Dorothy was present at the passing of her mother, brother Moriichi, brother Sunao and sister-in-law, Suki. Angel Dorothy passed away peacefully in her own bed on July 11, 2012, just two months shy of her 101st birthday.