Yuri Shiba Obituary (1923 - 2022)

LILY YURIKO SHIBA FEBRUARY 20,1933-December 25,2022 Yuri Shiba passed away on Christmas Day 2022 surrounded by her family. She was 89 years old. She was born February 20, 1933 in Brentwood, California to Naomi and Edward Katsuji Taniguchi. Yuri spent her early childhood years in Stockton, California until her family along with many other Japanese Americans was moved to an internment camp during WWII at the Gila River War Relocation Center in Arizona. Once the war was over, Yuri and her family briefly moved to Seabrook, NJ, before moving to Blue Town, TX in 1947 where her Dad farmed in Los Indios. Yuri graduated from San Benito High School and earned a college degree in Physical Education at Texas Woman’s University in Denton, Texas. When she returned to the Valley, she met the love of her life, Tom Shiba. They were married in 1955 and settled in Mission, Texas where they raised their 4 children. Tom farmed all along the Rio Grande River and in Mexico and Yuri took care of the bookkeeping. During this time, she began her teaching career, first in Physical Education, and then in Special Education for Mission CISD. Yuri was also active in school and civic organizations as a cheerleader sponsor and costume designer, Mission Junior Service League member, Texas Citrus Fiesta volunteer, and Texas International Fishing Tournament board member. Yuri and Tom semi-retired in Cabo San Lucas in the mid 1990’s. In 2001 and 2002 they won back-to-back championships at the Los Cabos Billfish Tournament on their boat, The Finish Line. Yuri was 69 when she won the championship jackpot by reeling in the winning 323 lb blue marlin. Yuri motivated her family to work and travel together. In 1984, Tom and Yuri began importing mangos from Mexico. Their company, GM Produce Sales, became a three-generation family business. Yuri was still active in the business through the 2022 season and worked in the financial office. Her love of life and travel also inspired many family trips around the world. Family was everything to Yuri. She is passing down a legacy of family unity to her 4 children JoJo Shiba (Sheldon) Kamanu, Wade Shiba, Stephanie (Felo) Martinez, and Sue Duleba (Roman Garza). She is also survived by her loving grandchildren Nikki Carter, Hondo Martinez, Alyssa Hind, Regan Duleba, Roy Duleba IV, and Brandon Shiba; and 5 great grandchildren. Yuri is preceded in death by her husband Tom Shiba, parents Naomi and Edward Katsuji Taniguchi, brother Edward Taniguchi, and grandson Felito Martinez. A memorial service will be held on January 14, 2023 at 10:00 am at Ric Brown Family Funeral Home in Mission, located at 621 E. Griffin Pkwy. Officiating the service is Father Patrick Seitz. In lieu of flowers please honor Yuri by donating to the Felito T. Martinez Memorial Scholarship Fund at GoFundMe.