Mary Toshiko Tabata

Beloved mother, wife, sister, grandmother, great grandmother, and friend passed away peacefully on March 17, 2022 at age 95.

She was under the loving care of Inspiration Hospice and the “super heroes” at Legacy House of Park Lane in Farmington, Utah.

Mary T. Yamada was the sixth child of ten born June 12,1926 in Alma, California to Kusumatsu and Fusa (Sakaguchi) Yamada. She grew up in San Jose, California.

Mary’s family relocated to Keetley, Utah during WWII in 1942. She met and later married Noboru Skip Tabata on May 1, 1949. They made their home in Salt Lake City, Utah. From that marriage came the greatest gift of all, her five children. She lived for her family and taught us all how to pay it forward, by putting her family first.

She was an excellent cook, loved to garden, read, was an avid bowler, loved sports of all kinds, needlework, Bingo and card games. She often said “I am so lucky”. We were the lucky ones. She will be missed by all whose lives she touched.

Mary would want to be remembered as kind, sweet, generous, and a loyal friend but particularly by her favorite names: Mom, Grandma, and Great Grandma.

Mary is survived by her children Christine Lund, Calvin (Debi) Tabata, Pauline (Reed) Vosburgh, Linda (Don) Lamb, and Laura (Al) Sherwood, 10 grandchildren, 9 great grandchildren, her sister, May Kong, and many nieces and nephews.

The memorial service will be on April 2, 2022 at 11:00 AM at the Japanese Church of Christ, 268 West 100 South Salt Lake City, Utah. The viewing will be held from 9:00 – 11:00 AM. Masks are required at the Church. Immediately following will be the Interment service at Mountain View Memorial Estates Cemetery at 3115 East 7800 South (Bengal Boulevard) Cottonwood Heights, Utah. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Japanese Church of Christ or the American Red Cross.