Mary Oyama Hada

The youngest of four children, Mary was born Jan. 28, 1926, in San Benito, Texas, to father Takijiro Oyama and mother Taki Yasoikawa Oyama. A proud Texan through and through, Mary was reared in the Rio Grande Valley, where she had fond memories of playing with siblings and friends.

Mary married George I. Hada on June 30, 1948, in Phoenix, Ariz. In 1949 Mary gave birth to the couples’ first daughter, Marilyn Hada Okabayashi. Homesick for the Lone Star State, the three moved back to San Benito, where Mary gave birth to their second daughter, Sylvia Hada Lindsay.

In 1975, Mary and George moved to Houston, where the couple owned and operated several rental properties and Mary worked in multiple administrative roles for companies such as Conoco.

Mary is remembered as a smiling and caring mother, grandmother, great-grandmother and friend. She loved to surround herself with friends and family, and never turned down a piece of warm chocolate cake and a scoop of ice cream. Family members joked that the Rio Grande Valley cuisine of her childhood must have scorched her taste buds, since Mary relished the hottest of chilies. She cared for her grandsons and spoiled them whenever she could, much to the dismay of her daughters. Mary could bake a mean pumpkin pie at Thanksgiving. She was an active member of Willow Meadows Baptist Church in Houston.

Mary was preceded in death by her parents, Takijiro and Taki Oyama; siblings Takeo Oyama, Sigenore Oyama Sr. and George Oyama; and daughter Sylvia Lindsay. Mary leaves behind daughter Mari (husband Harry Okabayashi) and son-in-law Howard Lindsay; grandsons Timothy Okabayashi (wife Casey) and Eric Lindsay; and great-grandchildren Cooper Okabayashi, Forrest Okabayashi, Emmi Lindsay, Anna Brooke Lindsay and Violet “Livvy” Lindsay. She also leaves behind many nieces and nephews; grandnieces and grandnephews; great-grandnieces and great-grandnephews; extended family; and friends, many from her final years spent at Colonial Oaks Senior Living in Katy, Texas.

A Celebration of Life will be scheduled for 2021 to accommodate Mary’s friends and relatives.