Editor’s note: Obituaries are published free of charge as a public service. Content is subject to editing for parity treatment and style continuity. Date of publication cannot be guaranteed. Any questions regarding obituaries should be directed to the mortuary or to obituaries@westhawaiitoday.com. Memorial advertisements with photos may be purchased through the newspaper advertising department.
Steven Brown
Steven “Santa” Douglas Brown, 80, of Keaau died Nov. 15 at Hilo Medical Center. Born in Revere, Mass., he was a handyman and avid motorcyclist. Celebration of life at a later date. Survived by wife, Patricia Brown of Keaau; stepdaughter, Marina Dally of Keaau; sister, Marsha Nolan of Minnesota; four grandchildren and five great-grandchildren. Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary.
Margaret Hasty
Margaret Howlett Hasty, 91, of Kailua-Kona died Oct. 26 at her residence. She was born in Cambridge, Mass. Public memorial service 11 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 6, 2024 at at First Parish in Needham, Mass. Private burial in the Newton (Mass.) Cemetery and Arboretum. No flowers. Memorial donations to The Center for Grieving Children, 555 Forest Ave., Portland, ME 04101 or cgcmaine.org; or Hospice of Kona, P.O. Box 4130, Kailua-Kona HI 96745 or hospiceofkona.org. Survived by daughters, Vicki (Dave Honma) Hasty of Kailua-Kona and Laurie (Benson Gray) Hasty of Falmouth, Maine; son, Chris (Jacqueline) Hasty of Houston; six grandchildren; cousins, nieces and nephews. Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary.
Thomas Gurrobat, Jr.
Thomas “TATA” Gianan Gurrobat Jr., 76, of Kalaoa, Kona, died Nov. 15 at Kona Community Hospital. Born in Honolulu, he was a U.S. Army Airborne Ranger and long-range reconnaisance patrol member who served in Vietnam, golf attendant at Hualalai Resort, limo driver and bartender at the former Ritz Carlton and bellman at the old and the new Halekulani Hotel. Services at a later date. Survived by wife, Mona Ewing Gurrobat of Kalaoa, Kona; son, Sheldon (Cindy) Gurrobat of Las Vegas; daughter, Trina (Dan) Gurrobat-Serrao of Las Vegas; stepdaughters, Bri Gamiao of Mililani, Oahu, and Alena Gamiao of Kailua-Kona; brothers, Peping, Raymond and Tyrone, all of Honolulu; sister, Angie (Donald) Haramoto of Maui; a granddaughter and a hanai grandson; nieces, nephews, and cousins. Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary.
Vida Kaeo Vida Ann
Momi Kealohapauole Kaeo, 79, of Pearl City died Oct. 20 in Honolulu. She was born in Honolulu. Private services held on Oahu. Survived by sisters, Erlene (Chester) Hamamoto of Hawaiian Beaches, Althea (Wallace) Johnston of Oahu; brothers, Timothy Kealohapauole of Oahu, Eldred Ikaika of Hilo; brother-in-law, Robert Souza of Papaikou; sister-in-law, Frances Kamali of Lanai. Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary.
Doris Fukui
Doris E. Fukui, 82, of Hilo, died Oct. 1, 2023, at Hilo Medical Center. Born in Hilo, she was a retired County of Hawaii Motor Vehicle Registration supervisor and member of Malia Puka O Kalani Catholic Church. Visitation from 10-11 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 9, 2023, at Dodo Mortuary chapel in Hilo; memorial service at 11 a.m. Casual attire. She is survived by sons, Wade Fukui and Ryan (Jolana Colobong) Fukui of Hilo; daughter, Desiree (Conrad) Kaleohano of Hilo; sisters, Shirley (Eugene) Yamane and Kathleen (Ed) Reis of Hilo; brother, Duane (Janice) De Mello of Hilo; three grandchildren, three great-grandchildren; numerous nieces, nephews and cousins. Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary.
Keith Mento
Keith Fumio Mento, 61, of Papaikou, died Nov. 15, 2023, at Kona Community Hospital. He was born in Hilo. Private services to be held. He is survived by children, Daynor (Dawn Taniyama) Mento of Kona, Leisha (Colby) Koreyasu of Hilo, Kira Mento of Pepeekeo; seven grandchildren. Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary.
Cecilia Tugcay
Cecilia Salabe Tugcay, 98, of Papaaloa died Nov. 1 at the Hale Anuenue Restorative Care Center. Born in Keauhou, Kona on February 18, 1925, she was a homemaker and formerly employed at Laupahoehoe High School, member of the St. Joseph Catholic Church and Laupahoehoe Senior Citizens. Visitation from 9–10 a.m. Friday (December 1, 2023) at Dodo Mortuary Chapel; prayer service at 10. Burial to follow at Homelani Memorial Park (Ililma Section). Casual attire. Survived by son, Allan (Dolores) Tugcay of Phoenix, Arizona; sisters, Irene Angot of Paauilo, Carmen DeMello of Paauilo; two grandchildren, 1 great-grandson, numerous nieces and nephews. Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary.
John Adrian
John “Junior” “Drake” Freitas Adrian, Jr., 81, of Hilo, died Nov. 11, 2023, at home. Born in Honolulu, he was a retired heavy equipment operator for Yamada &Sons, Inc., U.S. Navy Seabee and Hawaii Army National Guard veteran, member of Saint Anthony Catholic Church and founding member of the Big Island Early Irons Car Club. Visitation from 4-6 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 7, 2023, at Dodo Mortuary chapel in Hilo; memorial service at 6 p.m. Graveside urn committal service 10 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 9, 2023, at Saint Anthony Catholic Church Cemetery in Laupahoehoe. Casual attire. He is survived by wife, Andrea Adrian of Hilo; son, Chad (Julie) Adrian of Mountain View; daughter, Chantel (Sean Pedrina) Adrian of Laupahoehoe; four grandchildren; numerous nieces, nephews and cousins. Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary.
Ellen Johnson
Ellen Lee Johnson, 97, of Papaikou, died on Sunday, November 12, 2023 at home. She was born on November 16, 1925 in Fort Scott, Kansas. She was a former reservation agent for Trans World Airlines. She was also a State Department of Education Chapter 1 tutor and parent involvement coordinator. A Celebration of Life will be held at a later date. Survived by, children, Mark (Inez) Johnson of Papaikou, David (Olga Garcia) Johnson of Destin, Florida and Margaret Johnson of Papaikou; 3 grandchildren; 1 great-grandson; 1 nephew; numerous cousins. Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary, Inc.