Since Karin had told me "Japanese mom" had passed, I have been thinking of so many memories of her. Most of the memories were of teasing her and laughing. She seemed to enjoy it because she would just start laughing whenever she'd see me! One of my favorite laughs began when she asked me if I had done my taxes. I had and then asked her if she had used the "short form" for hers. We laughed uproariously after that.

It's hard to put into words how someone has affected you, and you don't even realize it when it's happening. Years later, after reflecting on how I was raised, I had come to cherish how kind, generous, and concerned "Japanese mom" had been to me throughout all these years, especially as a struggling teenager. Her legacy to me is that maybe I wasn't so bad after all. If she was always able to welcome me in and enjoy me, then maybe the feedback I was getting at home wasn't a complete picture. Thank you, Japanese mom. It might've looked simple on the outside, but the magnitude of your affect is still there and valued highly after all these years.

One of the best ways a Mother can be viewed is the character of the children she leaves behind. Doris’s legacy is these children: Kelly, Karin and Sharon. Doris raised all three of her children to be kind and welcoming and that says a lot about a Mom. The kids are loving and look after each other. I only know one of them well. If I had to base all that I know on Karin, then Doris was a huge success, as Karin has a big heart, is so very kind and has such a sense of humor! Doris always treated me so kindly, and so do all of her children. This family is strong and will pull together for love and support. Doris is a huge loss but her legacy lives on through all of them. She certainly had a right to be so very proud of the life she created with her husband and who they’ve left here to carry on their family values.

I live in Arizona and did not know Doris had passed on until recently. I worked with Doris for most, if not all, of her many years at Fairchild. She was very friendly, easy to work with, and had a great disposition. Her work was stellar. She always made me a blueberry cheesecake to take home for my birthday. Doris was a genuinely fine lady!