Mary Harue Koura

nee Hayano, passed away January 7, 2016, returning to the only place she wanted to be, beside her loving husband of 66 years, Noburo (Nob). She was born May 9, 1924, in Mount Vernon, Washington and was 91 years of age.She graduated from Mount Vernon High School but was unable to attend the graduation ceremony due to the government curfew on Japanese and Japanese-Americans during World War II. In 1992 she was invited by the Mount Vernon senior class to march in their graduation ceremony, an event covered by the local news media and picked up by CNN for national coverage. Her proud family watched as she walked up to receive her diploma to a standing ovation.While incarcerated with her family at Tulee Lake, Idaho during WWII, Mary left to attend St. Olaf College in Northfield, Minnesota (one of their first female Japanese-American students). After the war, her family joined Mary in Minneapolis.She married Nob in 1945 and joined him on the Koura berry farm on Bainbridge Island. Besides working the farm and raising a family, Mary was a checker at the Town & Country Thriftway until her retirement.Mary and Nob enjoyed traveling and golfing, often combining both as they drove around the country. Other pastimes involved mushroom hunting clam digging, family, church, friends and neighbors. They loved and had the love of a large family including daughter, Carole Kubota; son, Scott (Jane); grandsons, Travis and Curtis Kubota; granddaughters Rebecca Tucker and Jennifer (Matt) Powell; great-grandchildren Anna and Adam Powell; and several nieces and nephews.Mary was preceded in death by Nob (2011); four brothers: Hiroshi, Masamu, Torao and George; and sister, Judy Tabata. Besides the family mentioned earlier, she is survived by sister, Hannah Semba; brother-in-law, Tony Koura; sisters-in-law, Sue Furuta, Reiko Koura and Jane Hayano.She had a great life. She will be missed and cherished. Memorial services will be held at Bethany Lutheran Church, Bainbridge Island, Sunday, January 31 at 2:00 p.m. Please sign Mary's Guestbook for the family. Arrangements entrusted to Cook Family Funeral Home.