Editor’s note: Obituaries are published free of charge as a public service. The content is subject to editing to ensure parity treatment and style continuity.
Date of publication cannot be guaranteed. Memorial advertisements may be purchased through the newspaper advertising department.
Clarence Mattos
Clarence “Bow” “Cowboy” Andrade Mattos, 89, of Kurtistown is survived by brothers, Raymond (Jean) Mattos of California and William Mattos of Keaau. The brothers were incorrectly identified in an earlier obituary because of information supplied to West Hawaii Today.
Makiko Leon
Makiko Leon, 76, of Pepeekeo died June 8, 2014, at Hospice of Hilo’s Pohai Malama Facility. Born Oct. 8, 1937, in the Republic of the Marshall Islands, she was a homemaker and member of the Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church in Papaikou.
Friends may call from 9 a.m. June 18 to 8 a.m. June 19 at 1256 Basque Place in Kaumana for an all-day vigil. A service will be held at 10 a.m. June 19 at the Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church in Papaikou. Burial follows at Homelani Memorial Park, Ilima Section. Family requests casual attire be worn.
She is survived by sons, Russell (Linday) Leon, Francis (Riton) Leon, Stephen (Evelyn) Joel, Leonard Leon; daughters, Drusi (Dennis) Callan, Mary (John) Silk, Paula (Carlson) Samuel, Takion (Aliten Anjel) Leon, Maggie Leon, Rose (Glann) Lewis, Meriba (Jesus) Barnachea, Elisa Leon; brothers, Taklur Balos, Emlin Balos; sister, Loretta Balos; 46 grandchildren; 34 great-grandchildren; one aunt; one uncle; numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.
Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary.
Frank Rapoza
Frank “Ron” Ronald Rapoza, 71, of Mountain View died June 9, 2014, at Hospice of Hilo’s Pohai Malama Facility. Born Oct. 13, 1942, in Hilo, he was a retired pump technician for the Hawaii County Department of Water Supply, president of the Mountain View Mini Mart and Gas ‘N Go, former vice president of the UPW Big Island Division, a coach for various youth organizations and member of the Hilo Trollers.
Friends may call at 4 p.m. June 18 at Dodo Mortuary chapel in Hilo for a 6 p.m. service. Family requests casual attire be worn and no flowers.
He is survived by wife, Myrtle Rapoza of Mountain View; sons, Guy (Bridget) Rapoza of Pepeekeo, Russell (Patricia) Rapoza of Hilo, Kelly (Sossity) Rapoza of Mountain View; sisters, Barbara (Roy) Koi of Naalehu, Joyce DeReis of Hilo; one uncle; 11 grandchildren; numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.
Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary.
Christine Yapp
Christine Leinaala Yapp, 78, of Hilo died May 24, 2014, at home. Born Feb. 11, 1936, in Olaa, she was a retired sales and mail order clerk for Mauna Loa Macadamia Nut Co., former member of Haili Congregational Church and member of New Hope Christian Fellowship in Hilo and Lehua Senior Bowling League.
Friends may call at 6 p.m. June 19 at Dodo Mortuary chapel in Hilo for a 7 p.m. service. Friends may call again at 9 a.m. June 20 at the mortuary for an 11 a.m. service. Burial follows at Homelani Memorial Park, Section 4. Family requests casual attire be worn.
She is survived by daughters, Thailiana Denise (Walter) Aipolani and Autumn (Lee) Aipolani-Soares, both of Hilo, Karen Ortiz of Honolulu; son, Stacey Kekaualua of Hilo; four grandchildren; 13 great-grandchildren; numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.
Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary.
George Gomes
George Gomes, 78, of Honaunau died May 29, 2014, at his residence. Born Nov. 2, 1935, in Kealakekua, he was a retired coffee farmer and tractor driver and Korean War Army veteran.
Friends may call at 9:30 a.m. June 20 at Kona Memorial Park in Holualoa for a 10 a.m. service. Family requests casual attire be worn.
He is survived by wife, Isabel Gomes of Honaunau; son, Michael (Terri) Gomes of Mountain View; daughters, Laurie Valenzuela of Kailua-Kona, Cynthia (Stephen) Deniz of Honaunau; brothers, Thomas (Jane) Gomes of Oregon, Harry (Rosaline) Gomes of Holualoa, Roy (Marcia) Gomes of Kailua-Kona; sisters, Beatrice (Leonard) Neves of Oregon, Eleanor (Rudy) Bodine of Florida; 10 grandchildren; 15 great-grandchildren; numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.
Arrangement by Dodo Mortuary
Toyoko Hokomoto
Toyoko “Toyo” Hokomoto, 84, of Pepeekeo died May 24, 2014, at Hilo Medical Center. Born Nov. 23, 1929, in Hilo, she was retired from both the Hawaii County Retired Senior Volunteer Program and the former S.H. Kress Store and was a member of the Honomu Hongwanji Mission and HGEA Retirees.
Friends may call at 3 p.m. June 20 at Dodo Mortuary chapel in Hilo for a 4 p.m. service. Family requests casual attire be worn.
She is survived by husband, Asaichi Hokomoto of Pepeekeo; son, Neil (Ann) Hokomoto of Hilo; one grandchild; numerous nieces and nephews.
Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary.
George Espaniola Sr.
George “Keoki” Espaniola Sr., 84, of Mountain View died May 16, 2014, at Hilo Medical Center. Born May 17, 1929, in Hilo, he worked for H. Harada Construction Co.
Friends may call at 9 a.m. June 21 at Dodo Mortuary chapel for an 11 a.m. service. Burial will be at Alae Cemetery. Family requests casual attire be worn.
He is survived by daughters, Louise Espaniola and Julieanne (Danny) Collins Espaniola, both of Hilo, Georgieana (Darren) Pascua of Keaau; son, Dave (Clarie) Espaniola of Hilo; sisters, Victoria Espaniola Quiocho, Helen Espaniola Tolentino and Julianne Espaniola Cabison, all of Hilo; brothers, Joseph Lopez Espaniola of Molokai, Philip Lopez Espaniola Sr. of Hilo; 12 grandchildren; 12 great-grandchildren; two great-great grandchildren; numerous nephews, nieces and cousins.
Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary.
Shirley Gaston
Shirley R. Gaston, 59, of Hilo died June 1, 2014, at The Queen’s Medical Center. Born Sept. 24, 1954, in Pahala, she was a laundry worker for Hawaiian Linen in Hilo.
Friends may call T 5 p.m. June 21 at Dodo Mortuary chapel for a 6 p.m. service. Lei are welcome. A private urn committal will be held at a later date.
She is survived by son, Bradley (Trisha) Gaston of Hilo; brothers, Arnold (Lila) Gaston of Hilo, Kenneth (Jonette) Gaston of Naalehu; sisters, Suzanne (Clifford) Tomlinson of North Carolina, Mildred (Joseph) Melanson of Massachusetts, Marie (Sam) Torkelson of Hilo, Jane (Perry) Keohuloa of Hawaiian Beaches; four grandchildren; numerous aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces and nephews.
Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary.
Sachie Jones
Sachie Jones, 90, of Kailua, Oahu, died June 5, 2014. Born Sept. 14, 1923, in Pahoa, she was employed by Aiea Naval Hospital, Blue Cross and Orange County Library and she retired as a State Farm Insurance secretary.
Friends may call at 9:15 a.m. June 21 at Nuuanu Memorial Park & Mortuary in Honolulu for a 9:45 a.m service. Private entombment will be held. Family requests aloha attire be worn. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Global Hope Network International, c/o 737 Ululani St., Kailua, HI 96734.
She is survived by husband, Charles Jones; sons, Lloyd (Janet Smith) Jones, Harold (Lana Yong) Jones; sisters, Yachie Motobu of San Diego, Chizuku Nakamura of Ewa Beach, Oahu; caregiver, Dianna Kardos; eight grandchildren; 17 great-grandchildren.
Arrangements by Nuuanu Memorial Park & Mortuary.
Aukai Bruno Rivera
Aukai Kingston Bruno Rivera, 6 months, of Honolulu, died June 6, 2014, at Kapiolani Medical Center in Honolulu. He was born Honolulu.
Friends may call at 8 a.m. June 21 at Sacred Heart Church in North Kohala for a 10 a.m. Mass. Family requests blue colored casual attire be worn.
He is survived by parents, Arlene Bruno and Kaimi Rivera of Honolulu; brother, Nai Rivera of Honolulu; maternal grandparents, Ben and Elma Bruno of North Kohala; paternal grandparents, Les and Kathy Rivera of North Kohala; maternal great-grandfather, Domy Villena of North Kohala; maternal great-grandparents, Lorenzo and Juana Bruno of North Kohala; paternal great-grandparents, George and Lee Rivera of North Kohala; paternal great-grandmother, Andrea Sheehan of Utah.
Arrangements by Nuuanu Memorial Park & Mortuary.
William Suttle
William Edward “Ed” Suttle, 62, of Kurtistown died May 3, 2014, at Kaiser Medical Center-Moanalua, Oahu. Born May 23, 1951, in Montgomery, Ala., he was the owner of a fireplace installation and maintenance business and a Vietnam War Air Force veteran.
Friends may call at 10 a.m. June 21 at Hilo Missionary Church, 1044 Komohana St., for an 11 a.m. service. A celebration of life gathering follows in the church hall. Friends may again call at 9 a.m. June 23 at Hawaii Veterans Cemetery No.2 for a graveside urn committal. Family requests casual attire be worn.
He is survived by daughters, Martha-Ann (Cory) Aukai, Gabrielle Suttle, Amanda (Christopher) O’Farrell; parents, William Suttle and Ruby Walker Suttle; brothers, Richard Suttle, Anthony Suttle; sisters, Carol (Tom) Dusenberry, Mary (Bill) Griffin; five grandchildren.
Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary.
Megan Labrador
Megan “Uncle Megs” Elpidio Labrador, 60, of Ainaloa died June 7, 2014, at his home. Born May 30, 1954, in Honolulu, he was a commercial fisherman and construction worker.
Friends may call at 10 a.m. June 22 at Dodo Mortuary chapel in Hilo for a noon service. Cremation follows. Family requests casual attire be worn.
He is survived by sons, Jarrett (Lene) Labrador of Paradise Park, Joshua (Matthew) Labrador of Ainaloa; brother, Leonard (Zola) Labrador of Paradise Park; sisters, Janet Curlee of Ewa Beach, Oahu, Leonida (Kenneth) Kliphon of Connecticut, Felicidad (Angelito) Agcaoili of Kaneohe, Oahu, Shaleen Curlee and Rosemarie (Lawrence) Pacarro, both of Paradise Park, Muriel George of Honolulu; three grandchildren; numerous nieces and nephews.
Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary.