Taye Nakamura-Koyama

Dear Taye,
  We saw a mouse scamper, and it made me think of the time, you found a wayward deer mouse that found its way into our garage.
I was freaked out by its presence, but you thought it was so adorable and cute .  Some how  you  managed to pick it up and put it in a cage, which we later drove down to Shevlin Park and released it.
  I remember your gentle ways around living creatures.  You loved to catch the geckos in Hawaii too.  I remember when you were 2 or 3 you found a little lost duckling too around the creek surrounding our home in CT, and antoher one swimming in the pool in CA.
   The animals and creatures all loved you, they never seemed afraid of you.  I hope you are surrounded by a lot of animals in heaven.
  Our home is not the same without you Taye. We are missing you. Wish you were here to catch this mouse, I dread calling the Terminix man, because I know he won't be as kind to the mouse who found its way into the house.
Love,  Mom

Dear Taye,

While your family was on Oahu, your Mom asked if we could have a Lei Ceremony in your honor. Of course we could. And we did. It was so very sad but also very beautiful and the day was a typical Hawaiian day. We were on the Admiral's pier on Ford Island and the Arizona was right there...like you could reach out and touch it. Pearl Harbor and the Ko olau Mountains were in the distance. Your dad said, "Kaye would love this". Chris said a beautiful prayer that your mom asked me to post on here so here it is.

Lord God, source and destiny of our lives, in Your loving wisdom You gave us Taye to grow in wisdom, age, and grace. Now You have called her to Yourself. We, especially Penny, Hal, Weston and Kiki, grieve over the loss of one so young and struggle to understand Your purpose. We thank you though, that heaven is a real place and that when you said, "Today you will be with me in paradise", you were speaking to all of us who believe in you. Thosse words have come true for Taye. Please draw her to Yourself and give her full stature in Christ. May she also stand with all the angels and saints, who know Your love and praise Your saving will. We thank you that she is finally home, safe at last, where no pain or sickness or sadness can touch her any longer.

Lord Jesus, you are the master of life and death. You said, "I am the resurrection and the life", and this evening we believe this with all our hearts. You know far more than we do what death is all about. So we come to you in our pain and in our sadness. We are the ones in need this evening. Lord have mercy on us, but most especially have mercy on Penny, Hal, Weston and Kiki and all their friends and family. You have promised to be near to the bnroken-hearted. So draw near, O Lord; for we desperately need your help. Help Penny, Hal, Weston and Kiki because they are your children. Help them so that their faith will not fail. Help them so that they may somehow continue to bring glory to you and grant the wisdom they need to think clearly through the pain, anger and fear they are struggling with. Help them to rest in you.

In Jesus' name
Amen

I'm not sure if these photos will show, but here are my memories:

I remember Taye from back in Westlake Village, CA.  I remember her so well because I was Kiki's Brownie leader for three years.  Taye was Kiki's adorable little sister, and we would get to see her at "pick up" time when the meetings were over.  She was so cute!

I was also Taye's Japanese dance teacher from age 4 to age 6.  She had her "hatsubutai" (stage debut) in June 2002 at age 4 (Taye is on the left), dancing "Hanayome Ningyo" with her sister Kiki (center) and another girl, Satomi.  Taye was a very spirited little 4-year-old, and I wasn't sure how she would react to being under the bright lights--would she get frightened and run off the stage, or stay on stage and dance?  We were all so happy with the outcome ... Taye did her best and danced very well!


Taye took a year off from dancing in 2003, then returned for the 2004 recital.  She danced "Toge" which is about a girl who is playing with her horse, but then loses him in the mountains.  She is very sad, but searches for her horse and finally finds him at the end of the dance.  Taye learned the steps well.  When learning the classical technique and style, however, Taye had her own mind and did the dance her own way!  It turned out to be fine, though, as she was very convincing as the girl who lost her horse.



Despite the distance and the years, I have still felt close to Taye's family through yearly emails.  After reading the posts on this memorial site, I realize what a beautiful young woman she has become, intelligent and talented, with empathy for others and such a pure heart.

Taye, we will all miss you!  To Penny, Hal and family, I pray that God's love and the love of family and friends will surround you and help you heal.  We love you!!  Me ke Aloha Pumehana (with warmest love) ... Carolyn and the Morinishi family

Hi Taye, ever since I heard from your mom of your passing, I have been driving by your first home more and more. It is on my path as it is in the beautiful historic district of Chagrin Falls, but I look at it so differently now. I remember your mom bringing you home there for the first time. I know you were so young but I wonder if you look at it now from above. It is this beautiful old white rambling home, and my first husband helped re-finish the third floor. I will never forget the joy on your mother's face bringing you home for the first time. I also remember drinking coffee with her in your first kitchen. There was this other time when me and Anthony and your parents ate crab legs in your living room while watching Law and Order. Your dad had a client that sent these enormous crab legs. It was so fun. Your mom always had such a warm home and I'm sure your home in Bend is the same. I so want to come there. I want to be there for your mom as she was there for me, even from a distance. I think of her and you so much now, and of your dad, brother and sister. I love you all. Sue (Ginnetti) Reid

Dear Taye,
  ALOHA!   We're at the family home in Hawaii now, and we're missing you so much...when we landed I imagined you telling me, all the places you wanted to eat on the island.  You always loved the Asian food here, and we always had our favorite places, like Sunflower Cafe in Chinatown, where they have the best dim sum.  How I miss you.
   I went swimming yesterday at Three Tables, and as I was swimming I saw three sea turtles, I thought of you, because I know you would've loved being with them too.  It was always so much fun to swim with you at the beach, and follow the sea turtles or follow the schools of fish.  There's always this peace under the water.  I love you Taye, let's swim together again.  ~Mom