Willie Tavares Ferreira Jr., 78, of Hilo died Jan. 15 at Hilo Medical Center. Born in Pepeekeo he owned Willie’s Tire Service, was retired from Willocks Construction and was a member of Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church in Papaikou, St. Joseph Catholic Church in Hilo, Young Men Institute (YMI), Ancient Order of Forester Court Mauna Kea No. 8854 and Portuguese Cultural Club. Visitation 8-10 a.m. Thursday, Jan. 31 at St. Joseph Catholic Church. Mass at 10:30 a.m. Casual attire. Burial at Homelani Memorial Park, Ilima section. Survived by wife, Shirley Ferreira of Hilo; sons, Arnold (Sarah) Ferreira of Hilo, Carl (Ellen) Ferreira of Bakersfield, Calif., and Patrick Ferreira of Santa Rosa, Calif.; brother, Harold Ferreira of Paukaa; sisters, Loretta Kim of Hilo and Lucille (John) Scarborough of Mississippi; brothers in-law, Joseph DeSa of Oahu and William DeSa of Las Vegas; sisters-in-law, Kotone DeSa of Pepeekeo and Marilyn (Reynold) De Costa of Hilo; six grandchildren and two great-grandchildren; cousins, nieces and nephews. Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary.
Willie Tavares Ferreira Jr., 78, of Hilo died Jan. 15 at Hilo Medical Center. Born in Pepeekeo he owned Willie’s Tire Service, was retired from Willocks Construction and was a member of Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church in Papaikou, St. Joseph Catholic Church in Hilo, Young Men Institute (YMI), Ancient Order of Forester Court Mauna Kea No. 8854 and Portuguese Cultural Club. Visitation 8-10 a.m. Thursday, Jan. 31 at St. Joseph Catholic Church. Mass at 10:30 a.m. Casual attire. Burial at Homelani Memorial Park, Ilima section. Survived by wife, Shirley Ferreira of Hilo; sons, Arnold (Sarah) Ferreira of Hilo, Carl (Ellen) Ferreira of Bakersfield, Calif., and Patrick Ferreira of Santa Rosa, Calif.; brother, Harold Ferreira of Paukaa; sisters, Loretta Kim of Hilo and Lucille (John) Scarborough of Mississippi; brothers in-law, Joseph DeSa of Oahu and William DeSa of Las Vegas; sisters-in-law, Kotone DeSa of Pepeekeo and Marilyn (Reynold) De Costa of Hilo; six grandchildren and two great-grandchildren; cousins, nieces and nephews. Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary.
Mabel Mary Garcia, 80, of Hilo died Jan. 14 at Hilo Medical Center. Born in Hilo, she was a papaya packer for Del Monte and member of New Hope Christian Fellowship. Visitation 4–5:30 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 31 at Dodo Mortuary Chapel. Funeral service at 5:30. Visitation again 10–11:30 a.m. Friday, Feb. 1 at Dodo Mortuary Chapel. Burial to follow at Hawaii Veterans Cemetery No. 2. Casual attire. Survived by daughters, Virginia Stephens of Honokaa, Aileen Penovaroff and Phyllis Garcia of Hilo, Lenore Sawin of Kona; brother, Dennis Garcia of Nevada; sisters, Josephine Nash, Isabella Flores, Barbara “Maize” Jackson and Betty Lou Torres of Hilo, Margaret Lopez of California; 25 grandchildren, numerous great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren; nieces and nephews. Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary.
Wayne “Big Dog” Joseph, 65, of Keaau died Jan. 22 at home. Born in Honolulu, he was a retired Waiakea High School teacher and track and cross country coach, sportswriter and “Running with the Big Dog” columnist for the Hawaii Tribune-Herald, race director for the Big Island International Marathon, secretary for the Big Island Sports Hall of Fame, U.S. Army veteran and member of the Hawaii State Teachers Association — Retired. Friends may call from 1-3 p.m. Saturday at Dodo Mortuary chapel in Hilo. Celebration of life at 3 p.m. Family requests running shirt and shoes be worn or any sports attire. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Big Island Road Runners Scholarship Fund c/o Randee Arkin, HCR 1 Box 5445, Keaau, HI 96749. Survived by wife, Randee Arkin of Keaau; daughter, Jaclynn Joseph of Keaau; step-daughter, Sylas B. Wright of Seattle, Wash.; sister, Julie (John) Kaaiai of Ewa Beach, Oahu; mother-in-law, Adele Rosen of Tamarac, Fla.; and numerous nieces and nephews. Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary.
Elizabeth Y. Ibarra, 91, of Kailua-Kona died Jan. 15 at Life Care Center of Kona. Born in North Kohala, she was a coffee farmer. Services held. Survived by sons, Bert (Sandy) Ibarra of Kealakekua, Ronald (Sugunya) Ibarra and Randolph (Rochelle) Ibarra of Captain Cook; daughters, Joycelyn (Roy) Murakami and Elaine (Allen) Harada of Pearl City, Oahu; grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary.
Ralph Lee Sr., 70, of Hilo died Jan. 22 at Hilo Medical Center. Born in Hilo, he was a retired heavy equipment operator and member of the AFL-CIO Operating Engineers Local No. 3. Visitation 9-11 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 2 at Salvation Army Hilo Temple, 219 Ponahawai St. Funeral service at 11 a.m. Cremation to follow. Casual attire; no flowers. Survived by wife, Margie Lee of Hilo; sons, Ralph Lee Jr. and Harlan Lee of Hilo; daughters, Deborah (Rodney) Benevides of Keaau and Ralna Lee of Hilo; brothers, Robert Lee Jr. of Kurtistown and Wayne Lee Sr. of Hilo; six grandchildren and three great-grandchildren; nieces and nephews. Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary.
Norio Yoshioka, 84, of Papaikou died Jan. 17 at Pohai Malama Hospice Facility. Born in Papaikou, he was the retired owner of N. Yoshioka Auto Body Repair and member of Hiroshima Kenjin Kai. Services held. No flowers or koden (monetary gifts). Survived by wife, Tamayo Yoshioka of Papaikou; daughters, Corinne Taggart of Las Vegas and Avis Joy (Roy) Fukuoka of Anchorage, Alaska; sons, Wayne (Vicki) Yoshioka of Honolulu and Darrell (Florence) Yoshioka of Hilo; brother, Fumio (Yoshiko) Yoshioka of Papaikou; 11 grandchildren and two great-grandchildren; nieces and nephews. Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary.