Hideko Mcdonald- photo

HIDEKO MCDONALD OBITUARY Hideko S. "Deko" McDonald October 3, 1928 ~ April 19, 2009 DEL REY OAKS - Hideko S. "Deko" McDonald, age 80, died peacefully at the Alabama home of her son, Brian and his wife, Allison on Sunday, April 19, 2009. She was born on October 3, 1928. She was preceded in death by her husband, John F. McDonald, who died in 2002 and with whom she was married for 51 years. Deko was an independent-minded and headstrong young woman when she met U.S. Army Captain John McDonald at the U.S.O. in Osaka, Japan. She had to sneak out of the house under the noses of her strict parents to go to the U.S.O. She married John in 1951 and, in May 1952, their first son, Michael, was born. They moved to the United States in 1953, going first to South Portland, Maine, to join John's extended family there. Over the years they lived in Washington, D.C., Redbank, MD, Fort Hunt, VA, South Portland, ME, and in Sapporo and Tokyo, Japan, as John pursued a career as a diplomat in the U.S. Foreign Service. Upon retirement, Deko and John moved to Scarborough, ME, and later to Ocala, FL, and made frequent trips to the Monterey Peninsula until finally moving there in 1997. They bought their final family home in Del Rey Oaks later that year. During her 80 years Deko was not only a mother and homemaker, but an artist, seamstress, singer, actor and hostess known for giving the best cocktail parties in the U.S. Embassy in Tokyo. She taught herself English with the help of John's mother, Margaret McDonald from Ireland, learned how to drive on her own and was proud of the fact that she was an American. Her many friends in Japan lovingly bestowed the title of "Deko Hime" or "Princess Deko" on her and she wore it proudly over the years. Deko was well known for her bubbly, strong-willed personality, her creative sense of fashion (she loved hats) and her indomitable love of her husband John and her four children with him. She is survived by her children, Michael J. (Natalie) McDonald, Clare S. Leaman, both of Monterey, CA, Brian J. (Allison) McDonald of Semmes, AL and John F. (Takako) McDonald Jr. of Tokyo, Japan; and six grandchildren, Leslie, Emily, Lauren, Brian Jr., Alyssa and Erin. A Celebration of Life for Deko will be held from 2-8 p.m. Saturday, May 16, 2009 at her home at 2 Carlton Drive in Del Rey Oaks. Those who knew and loved Deko are welcome to come and celebrate her life and immeasurable spirit. Published by Monterey Herald on May 15, 2009.