Yoshiko Tonaki Clement, 82, of Kingsport, formerly of Asheville, North Carolina, died quietly at her home on Friday, March 9, 2018 after a brief battle with stomach cancer.
Known to many as Yoshi, she was a loving wife, mother, grandmother and friend. She was preceded in death by her adoring husband of 54 years, Clifford Clement.
She was the only daughter of Genichi and Ushi Tonaki. She had three brothers, Gensei, Genkichi, and Genko Tonaki all from Naha City, Okinawa.
Yoshi is survived by her daughter, Betty Payne and husband, John, of Kingsport; son, Clifton Clement and wife, Mary, of Jacksonville, N.C.; and granddaughter, Ashley Payne of Kingsport.
Born on March 26, 1935 in Okinawa, Japan, Yoshi came to the U.S. in 1961 after meeting her husband who was stationed in Okinawa while serving in the U.S. Air Force. She proudly became a U.S. citizen in 1970.
She loved flowers and gardening, knitting, cooking, shopping and traveling to new places.
The family will receive friends at her home in Kingsport on Sunday, March 11th from 3:00-5:00pm. A church service will be held at 2:00pm on Monday, March 12th in Asheville at Cedar Hill Free Will Baptist Church.
Memorial donations may be made to the American Cancer Society at http://www.cancer.org.