Miyako Ishii Martin

Miyako Martin passed away peacefully, surrounded by family November 29th, 2023. She was born in Ishii Village, Fukushima Prefecture, Japan to Junzaburo and Yoshi Ishii. She was the eldest and first daughter of 6 children. She attended and graduated from Miyagi Gakuin Christian Girls School and University.

She went on to work as a secretary at the U.S. Army Counter Intelligence Corps (CIC)Headquarters in Tokyo, where she met and married Auburn Martin in October 1951. She became a U.S. Citizen in Ft. Carson, Colorado in May 1959.

They traveled the world together and had 7 children, 4 of which were born abroad in 3 different countries. She was a homemaker, seamstress, excellent cook, devoted wife and loving mother. She loved life, traveling and adventure. Anyone that met her loved her for her kindness and respect for others.

She had many friends in her Buddhist practice from California to Las Vegas, Tennessee, Alabama, Florida and North Carolina. She gave and got support from all of them when needed.

Later in life she enjoyed many trips to Japan, Hawaii, and across the U.S with her children. Her grandchildren enjoyed hearing her stories and are very proud of their Japanese heritage. Her only granddaughter started a Friday night sushi dinner tradition with her that she looked forward to every week. She will be greatly missed by all who knew and loved her.

Miyako was extraordinarily strong willed and courageous throughout her life right up to the end, inspiring all her children and extended family members to strive to be as she was, so that her legacy will live on.

She lived a long and full life doing and experiencing things most people can only dream of. Her last words to children and grandchildren surrounding her were “I’m happy, really happy”.

She is preceded in death by her Mother, Father, two brothers and a sister in Japan, her husband Auburn Martin, son Robert Earl, grandson Jonathan Campbell and son in law Jeff Gill.

She is survived by 1 sister and 1 brother in Japan, sons George Martin, James Martin (Toshiko), Douglas Martin, Joseph Martin (Anne), daughters Miyako Gill, Diane Larkin (Robert) and 9 grandsons, 1 Granddaughter, 2 great grandsons, many nieces and nephews in the U.S and Japan.