Reiko Araki Chastain

Born on May 1, 1932, in Tokyo, Japan, Reiko was the daughter of Yoshio Araki and Kiku Hasebe. She had a tumultuous early life with her mother divorcing her father and then disappearing from her life; the firebombing of Tokyo during WWII; and her being sent out to the countryside, only to be somewhat close to Hiroshima when the atom bomb fell. She remembered seeing corn grow in mutated twists, and was later quite worried while pregnant that there would be radiation birth defects.

As a young woman, Reiko endured the tragic loss of a fiancé, a German national who died by suicide shortly before their wedding. She went on to learn English and, in 1957, began working for the U.S. Army in Tokyo as a translator and administrative assistant. There she met Davis “Dave” Chastain, an American serviceman stationed in Japan during the Korean Armistice. The two were married in 1958.

Reiko immigrated to the United States alone, pregnant and unfamiliar with the language and culture. When Dave was discharged, they settled in the Burien, Washington State area, where their first son Davis was born in 1959. Dave worked as a heavy equipment mechanic. They had a second child that was stillborn. Then they had Michael in 1962.

Despite financial hardship in their early years, Reiko’s determination helped reshape their future. Dissatisfied with their circumstances, she encouraged Dave to return to school, where he earned a degree in electrical engineering. This decision altered the trajectory of their lives.

They ended up settling in Shoreline, Washington, where they raised their children, until she once again encouraged Dave to find a better job. He took a position with a global design and construction firm in the early 1980’s, which led them on a global adventure, living in Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Japan, and the Philippines. They lived like royalty, in palatial homes, and built up quite a nest egg. He subsequently retired, and they moved back to the US in the late 1990’s, settling in Mukilteo, Washington. Tragedy struck again as her son, Michael, passed away at the age of 40 in 2002.

Reiko’s talents extended far beyond her adaptability and strength. She was a gifted and prolific artist, working across diverse media including oil painting, watercolor, mixed media paper collage, textile arts, pottery, beadwork, and rug-making. She taught watercolor classes while living overseas and collaborated with Bedouin communities on traditional rugmaking. Her work was exhibited in the Seattle area, including at the Wing Luke Museum, and earned her numerous accolades and awards.

As Reiko and Dave aged, they moved out of Mukilteo into a senior community where Dave passed away in 2023. Reiko then moved several times, ending up back in Mukilteo in an adult family home where she passed away.

The world has lost a fiercely independent spirit, a survivor, and a true artist. Reiko’s strength, creativity, and unyielding determination left a mark on everyone who knew her. She will be deeply missed.

Reiko was preceded in death by her husband, Dave; her son, Michael; her parents; and her half sister Noriko. She is survived by her older sister Hisako; her half-siblings, Owari and Masako; her son Davis and daughter-in-law Amy; her granddaughter, Kalle and her soon-to-be husband Brad; and various nieces and nephews.