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.
Mildred Hisae Hara
Mildred Hisae Hara, 91, of Hilo died Dec. 31 at home. Born in Honolulu, she was a retired secretary to the dean at Hawaii Community College. Private services held. Survived by sons, Chris (Kristi Kubo) Hara of Hilo and Brent (Heather) Hara of Tigard, Ore.; daughter, Lisanne Hara of Beaverton, Ore.; sister, Ethel Kakimoto of Honolulu; brothers, Walter (Betty Jane) Matsumoto and Mitchell (Denise) Matsumoto of Honolulu; five granddaughters; aunts, nieces, nephews, cousins, sisters- and brother-in-law. Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary.
Ralph Valentine Irvine, Jr.
Ralph Valentine Irvine, Jr., 68, of Volcano, died Nov. 17 at Hilo Medical Center. Born in Honolulu, he was a carpenter. Celebration of life to be held 11 a.m. Feb. 25 at the Onekahakaha Beach Park Pavilion #4. Casual attire; flowers welcome. Survived by wife Charlize Irvine of Volcano; daughters Leilani (Eric) Evans of Nantuckett, Mass. and Molly (Rachel) Mair of Eugene, Ore.; son Brian Irvine of Nantuckett, Mass.; sisters Pamela Irvine (Jack) of Mountain View, Lei Ilima Irvine and Margaret Irvine of Keaau; one granddaughter, two grandsons and numerous aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces and nephews. Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary.
Murray C. Gardner
Murray C. Gardner, PhD., 91, of Waimea died Jan. 2 at North Hawaii Community Hospital in Waimea. Born in Brooklyn, N.Y., was a co-founder of GeothermEx, a geothermal consulting firm in California and U.S. Marine Corps Reserves captain who received his Bachelors Degree from Brooklyn College and his PhD. from the University of Arizona. His interests included swimming, hiking, reading and gardening. His philanthropic interests included Guide Dogs For the Blind. Services held. Online condolences: ballardfamilymortuaries.com. Survived by wife, Donna Lee Gardner of Waimea; children, Annette L. (Charles Simons) Gardner of Laytonville, Calif., Michael-M. C. (Amy Dickman) Gardner of Lake Charles, La.; brother, Sherwin Gardner, of Washington, D.C.; a grandson; nieces and nephews. Arrangements by Ballard Family Mortuary.
Nelson “Ba” Young
Nelson “Ba” Young, 88, of Waiohinu, died Dec. 15 at Hilo Medical Center. Born in Pahoehoe, he was a U.S. Navy Vietnam Veteran and a former farmhand for A.C. Young. Visitation to be held from 9-10 a.m. Jan. 27 at Kauaha‘ao Congregational Church in Waiohinu, with funeral at 10 a.m. and burial to follow at Naalehu Community Cemetery. Casual Attire. Survived by daughter Nicole Young of Volcano; brother Wallace Young, Sr., of Waiohinu; sisters-in-law Pauline Young of Keaukaha and Gilda Young of Kansas; five grandchildren, one great-grandchild and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins. Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary.
Helen Mae Cooper
Helen Mae Cooper, 97, of Keaau, died Dec. 1 at home. Born in Mineola, N.Y., she was a U.S. Air Force veteran and a retired engineer for Hughes Aircraft Company. Visitation to be held from 1-2 p.m. Jan. 27 at New Hope Hilo, with memorial service at 2 p.m. Survived by nieces and nephews Laura Cooper of Keaau, Frances Scarpinato of Keaau, James Huntley of Orchidland, Susan Addis of Missouri, Julia (Jeremy) Newby Ramey of Neodesha, Kan., Barbara J. O’Neil of Long Island, N.Y., Jo Ann Cipolla of Houston, Emma Louise Huntley of Connecticut, Samantha Huntley of Arizona and numerous grandnieces and grandnephews. Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary.
Krystal Kuuipolani Ah Nee
Krystal Kuuipolani Ah Nee, 30, of Hilo, died Jan. 3 at Hilo Medical Center. She was born in Hilo. Services held. Survived by daughter, Honey-Rose Ah Nee; mother, Alicia (Wayne Kawamura) Hua; father, David Ah Nee; brothers, Kawika (Rosita Mercado) Ah Nee, Kaleo (Monica Cruz) Ah Nee and Kaimana (Nawai Makua) Ah Nee; grandmother, Marilyn Wong of Washington; aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews and cousins. Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary.
Sumie “Sue Cherry Kunieda” Nakamura
Sumie “Sue Cherry Kunieda” Nakamura, 95, of Hilo died Dec. 23 at home. Born in Hilo, she was a retired Hilo office manager for First Insurance and member of Honpa Hongwanji Hilo Betsuin. Private services held. No flowers or koden (monetary gifts). Survived by son, Wayne M. Nakamura of Hilo; daughter, Joyce E. Nakamura of Kirkland, Wash.; brother, Saburo Kunieda of Honolulu; brother-in-law, Shige Toyama of Hilo; sisters-in-law, Itsue Yamasaki of Hilo and Alice Char of Honolulu; nephews and nieces. Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary.