Akira Higashi, 89, of Pahala died Oct. 3 at home. Born in Pahala, he was a retired transportation supervisor for the State Department of Education, U.S. Army veteran and member of River of Life Assembly of God-Pahala. Private services held. Survived by children, Kerwin (Lisa) Buyuan and Lynnette (Ross) Aki of Hilo, Shane (Melanie) Higashi of Kona, Chuck Higashi of Pahala; sister-in-law, Aileen Higashi of Long Beach, Calif.; seven grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren; nieces and nephews. Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary.
Akira Higashi, 89, of Pahala died Oct. 3 at home. Born in Pahala, he was a retired transportation supervisor for the State Department of Education, U.S. Army veteran and member of River of Life Assembly of God-Pahala. Private services held. Survived by children, Kerwin (Lisa) Buyuan and Lynnette (Ross) Aki of Hilo, Shane (Melanie) Higashi of Kona, Chuck Higashi of Pahala; sister-in-law, Aileen Higashi of Long Beach, Calif.; seven grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren; nieces and nephews. Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary.
Richard Michael Merschdorf, 78, of Kailua-Kona died Nov. 5. Born in Mansfield, Ohio, he was the owner of Aloha Financial Services, member of the Elks Kona Lodge #2616, Kona Rotary Club, a volunteer for many community service organizations and U.S. Army veteran. Graveside service 11:15 a.m. Thursday, Dec. 5, at West Hawaii Veterans Cemetery in Kailua-Kona. Celebration of life at 12:30 at Elks Kona Lodge. Aloha attire. No flowers. Memorial donations Autism Moms Of Kona at autismmomsofkona.com. Survived by life partner, Derinda Thatcher of Kailua-Kona; daughter, Jessica (Zeke Hanohano) Merschdorf of Honolulu; son, Patrick Merschdorf of Salt Lake City.; three stepdaughters; eight grandchildren and step-grandchildren. Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary.
Earl Wayne Spence, 77, of Waimea died June 19 at Queen’s North Hawaii Community Hospital. Born in Laupahoehoe, he was a retired livestock manager for Kahuku Ranch, previously an agronomist with Parker Ranch, active with Mauna Kea Soil and Water Conservation District, NRCS, Hawaii Cattlemen’s Association, Hawaii Cattlemen’s Council, Hawaii Cattle Producers Cooperative Association and the West Hawaii Wildfire Management Organization. Celebration of life 10 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 30, at Kukaiau Ranch Hall in Umikoa Village, Paauilo. Service at 11 a.m. Refreshments to follow. Survived by wife, Betty Spence of Waimea; daughter, Sarah Spence of Missoula, Mont.; son, Scott Spence of Waimea; sister, Coleen Hickman of Fredericksburg, Texas; a sister-in-law and brother-in-law; two grandsons; a niece and nephews. Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary.
Clarence “Maggie” Shigeru Ueda, 79, of Hilo died Oct. 14 at Hilo Benioff Medical Center. Born in Hilo, he was a retired machinist for Jas. W. Glover, Ltd., U.S. Army veteran and member of Hilo Hooganji Mission. Private services held. No flowers or koden (monetary gifts). Survived by daughter, Leigh Ann (Scott Kawachi) Ueda of Hilo; son, Kyle Ueda of Hilo; sisters, Asako Igawa of Gardena, Calif., Nancy Ueda of Hilo and Carole Nakasone of Pearl City, Oahu; a grandson; nieces and nephews. Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary.
Fujie Ohara Yoshizawa, 96, of Keaau died July 27 at home. Born in Hilo, she was a retired flower packer for the former Orchids of Hawaii and member of Tenrikyo Church. Private services held. No flowers or koden (monetary gifts). Survived by sons, Dennis (Nancy) Yoshizawa of California, Glenn (JoAnn) Yoshizawa of Kona and Alvin Yoshizawa of Keaau; daughters, Janet Nuechterlein of Kona and Lynette Kusano of Keaau; eight grandchildren, 15 great-grandchildren and three great-great-grandchildren; nieces and nephews. Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary.
