Michiko Summers

Michiko Summers, loving mother, grandmother and great-grandmother went home to be with the Lord on April 2, 2016. Michiko was born on June 25, 1934 in Kumamoto City, Japan. When she was 18 years old, she moved to Sasebo, Japan where she met the love of her life, a Navy seaman named Cecil Summers. After a rigorous application process, both the US and Japanese authorities granted them permission to be married on November 16,1954, just in time for Cecil’s scheduled transfer to the US in January,1955.

The young couple lived briefly in San Diego then traveled to Cecil’s hometown of Clinton, Tennessee where Michiko learned about farm living and how to cook southern-style foods. The couple moved to Baltimore, Maryland on promise of work in the steel mill and shipyards and raised 4 children. Michiko needed to adapt to her new life in America, so she learned to read and write English by attending night classes and eventually became a US citizen because she wanted to ensure that she would never be separated from her family.

In 1969 they headed west and settled in Milpitas, California. Michiko began working at Hewlett-Packard, and after 22 years retired to join her husband in world travel.

Michiko had a green thumb and loved to garden. She had exceptional taste and decorated her homes with beautiful things. She did her hair and make-up everyday of her adult life and dressed up for every occasion, preferring high heels to sneakers. She was known for her cooking and ability to make a fabulous meal out of a few simple ingredients. She was skilled in home arts and could sew, knit and crochet without a pattern. Recent interests included Ikebana floral arrangement.

Michiko’s iron will contrasted with her gentle spirit. She accomplished so much in her lifetime through sheer determination and hard work. She raised her children with discipline and love and she was known for her kindness toward others. Survivors left to cherish her memory include her children Donna Kato (Atsushi), Curtis Summers (Tomoko), Wayne Summers (Patricia) and Deborah Summers, her siblings Hiroko Wilson, Midori Hanaoka, Takashi Shiraishi, 13 grandchildren and 6 great-grandchildren.

Michiko is preceded in death by her husband Cecil Summers, father Kamejiro and mother Hatsue Shiraishi, brother Takuji Shiraishi and sister Toshiko Shiraishi.

A celebration of life service will take place from 2-3 pm Saturday, April 9, 2016 at Oak Hill Memorial Park, San Jose, CA in the Chapel of Roses. A private burial service will take place at a later date. Memorial gifts may be made to the American Heart Association.