Kiyoko Mears

Kiyoko Mears, a resident of Ventura for over 10 years, passed

away at the age of 85 on Tuesday, March 13th. She was born on

March 7th, 1933. She grew up in Hikone, Japan in a large and

fun-loving family. She was the third of seven children, and the

second of five daughters born to Matama and Yukiko Kanai.

Kiyoko was introduced to her husband, Vernon Mears, by

friends, on a blind date at the NCO Club on the American Naval

base in Japan. He was stationed there with the US Navy while

serving on the USS Orleck. Courtesy of the Navy, they had the

opportunity to travel all over the US and the world with their

two daughters. At one point, they were stationed in Athens,

Greece, for three years. It was a favorite time and place for the

family. Kiyoko delighted in the opportunities to travel and in

being a homemaker devoted to raising her daughters.

After Vern retired, they returned to the US and settled in Burnsville, Minnesota. Once the girls

went off to college, Kiyoko and Vern hit the road again, traveling all over the US. After that,

they came to reside in Carmichael, California.

Vernon preceded her in death, passing on in 1996, after they had been married for 34 years. She

moved to Ventura to be close to her beloved granddaughter. Kiyoko took great joy in caring for

her adored Sa-chan. She also loved to shop, to go dining at all kinds of different restaurants, to

tend to her flowers, and to visit with her neighbors. A great cook, she enjoyed making traditional

Japanese foods for her family.

Kiyoko is survived by her daughter Anna Thomas of Ventura, California; her son-in-law Blake

and her granddaughter Claire Rose Sachiko, as well as her daughter Zita Mears of Seattle,

Washington and her daughter-in-law Laura Sammons. She is also survived by her sisters in

Japan, Hisako Abe and Mako Matsumoto, and their families, as well as a large extended family

of nephews and nieces.

She is much loved and will be greatly missed and forever remembered.

The celebration of Kiyoko’s life will be held at Conejo Mountain Memorial Park in Camarillo on

Saturday, March 31st at 10:00 am. A reception will follow directly after the service at the same

location. This service is open to all those who wish to pay their respects.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be sent to the American Diabetes Association at

diabetes.org.