Clara C. Stewart

Our beloved Clara passed away peacefully in her sleep on May 24 at the age of 92.

Born in 1921 in Puyallup, Washington, Clara was the first American born member of the family.  At the age of 11, her mother moved Clara and her three sisters and brother to Japan to attend school.  Due to the outbreak of World War 2, Clara remained in Japan and started a family in Kumamoto.  During that time, Clara welcomed a son, Seiichi and twins Ritsuko and Shinjiro.  Post-war times were tumultuous in Japan but Clara soon found solace in working for the U.S. military as an interpreter.  There, she met her second husband, Buddy Stewart, a member of the U.S. Air Force and moved back to the States to live with his family in Roanoke, Virginia.

While in Virginia, Clara was very active in the church and used her beautiful singing voice in services as well as in broadcast radio in the region.

In 1978, Clara returned to the Pacific Northwest to reunite with her family.

On Mercer Island, Clara and Buddy opened up their home and hearts to hold cooking and leather craft classes for the Japanese community.  Clara also worked diligently as a volunteer for Nikkei Concerns for many years.  Her singing voice was always just a request away as she continued to sing at every opportunity . . . all the way to her last days.

Clara is survived by sisters Agnes and Marie, her children, five grandchildren, four great grandchildren, and a loving congregation of friends.

Service: Saturday, May 31st at 1:30 pm Holyrood Cemetery Chapel.

In lieu of flowers or gifts, donations in her memory may be made to Nikkei Concerns: www.nikkeiconcerns.org or Bellevue First Baptist Church: www.bellevuefirstbaptist.org.